SK Automation America Inc.
SK Automation America Inc.
I joined this company on Oct. 13, 2025 as an On-site Field Engineer, to assist the project manager arrange the team.
I promoted to the Project Manager on Nov. 10, 2025, to lead the hand over work of HVDB assembly line in Rivian Normal factory, Illinois, the United States.
I joined SK Automation America Inc. as an on-site field engineer. The duty of my position was assist the project manager of Pack Configuration Production Line (Pack Config) to set daily tasks for technicians to reach preserved milestones on time in Rivian Normal Plant in Illinois, the United States. This production line is designed to install high-voltage distribution boxes onto automotive battery packs and test whether the assembled unit meets qualification standards.
The same time, because the project engineer who I assisted doesn't speak English, I learnt much from him about being a project manager and talking with client's project manager and engineers. In a sense, I may be seen as the project manager for this project by some client engineers, rather than the one I assist.
The challenge of this position includes:
Be familiar with the work pace of all trades to ensure that the daily workload is neither too heavy nor too light, allowing workers to fully utilize their eight-hour workday. Luckily, I was training to practice nearly all works from my last job.
Appoint suitable assistant managers who possess both strong professional skills and management capabilities to oversee electricians and fitters, thereby reducing my workload. After becoming friend with my subordinates, they would show their abilities naturally: Who is capable yet cunning? Who is less capable yet honest? Who is capable yet honest?
Understand each worker's strengths and weaknesses, assign the most suitable tasks to each worker, and avoid unnecessary overtime. There's no shortcuts to be a professional on this. I need time to understand them from daily work.
In the same factory, Rivian Normal Plant, my company, SK Automation has another project, High-Voltage Distribution Boxes assembly line (HVDB). Compared to Pack Config, HVDB is smaller in scale and better suited for a new employee like me to familiarize myself with the company's workflow. However, small as it may be, it's fully equipped with all the necessary functions. There's not a single task I can skip each day, and I need to serve as both project manager and field engineer. This means I not only report daily progress to the client's project lead, but also manage my team to reach milestones on time.
There are other two colleagues who joined the company with the same position and the same month with me. But they are still assistance of project manager after this structure change. My on-site supervisor Mr. Ziven Lai told me the reason was my performance in the past weeks were impressed on him, the project manager I assisted, and client's engineers.
The challenge of this work includes:
Joined the project in half way. Has no idea with project details and team member
Become a good field engineer who can make daily plan workable.
The ability to communicate with client's engineers, even with unreasonable request.
Pressure control. I have to have a way to release the pressure from preserved milestones and client's teams.