Plastics engineering sandwich course
Partnership engineering training (FIP) can be undertaken with an apprenticeship contract (students aged under 30). Engineers who take this track are awarded the INSA Strasbourg diploma, specialization plastics engineering, in partnership with Polyvia formation (Inter-regional center for sandwich-course training in plastics engineering), which is responsible for running and administering the course.
Aims
An INSA Strasbourg plastics engineer trained on a sandwich course is capable of intervening in all phases of the development of a plastic product.
In a company, he/she will be able to take on the following roles
- plastic parts product/process/production project manager (responsible for costs/deadlines/quality)
- steering a company’s transformation towards the Industry 4.0 era and agile, flexible production
As well as the disciplines inherent in the plastics engineering sector (materials, processing techniques, tooling), he/she will have the following specific skills:
- command of the numerical chain & process digitization
- command of 3D and even 4D printing
- instrumentation of means of production & robotization/cobotization
Over the 3 years, the course includes 53 weeks of academic training and 106 weeks of on-the-job training, including at least 12 weeks spent abroad.
On-the-job training
The periods spent in the company are divided into three phases corresponding to the three years of the course:
- phase 1 (31 weeks): the aim is for the student to get to know the company (environment, structure, products, objectives, technologies, people, culture, etc.) and refine his/her career plan
- phase 2 (30 weeks): intended to prepare the student to carry out technical projects of increasing complexity
- phase 3 (45 weeks): intended to enable the student to autonomously carry out a complex project corresponding to a real engineering assignment: the final course project (PFE).
Teaching goals
- Year 1 (21 weeks): to validate the basic scientific and technological knowledge acquired relating to the job of the plastics engineer
- Year 2 (22 weeks): opening towards new technologies in plastics engineering and issues relating to the factory of the future. More advanced work on project management and introduction to economic and human sciences
- Year 3 (9 weeks): in-depth study of a scientific and technical issue related to the company’s activity and validation of the basic knowledge gained in economic and human sciences
Syllabus
- fundamental sciences: mathematics, mechanics and energy science,
- engineering sciences: product design, constructive solutions/digital model/CAD, digital process simulation, plastics engineering (materials/processes), CIM, maintenance, quality, production management, automatic controls/robotics, innovation,
- economic and human sciences: project management, industrial performance (6 Sigma), accounting and financial management, human resources management, law, communication and conduct of meetings, German, English
- projects: plastics engineering projects, industrial project, technological research project (PRT), final course project (PFE).
Most of the teaching is based on active project-based methods. Evaluation is based on a skills matrix.
Training with close links to research and innovation
Throughout their training course, students are required to work on innovative projects alongside experts in new technologies in the plastics engineering field. For example, students take introductory courses in design, and creativity and innovation techniques. Finally, in the final year a technological research project (PRT) is proposed, enabling students to work directly with research laboratories.
Organization of the course
- students alternate periods at the school and periods in the company every 2 weeks
- total duration of the academic training: 53 weeks
- total time spent on the job: 103 weeks (including a minimum of 12 weeks abroad)
The course developed by INSA Strasbourg includes:
- 1,800 hours of training for apprentices,
- 30 to 40% of the training hours are devoted to economic and human sciences
- 1st year students have the opportunity to take part in a team project to design a plastics engineering system.
- an in-company project in Year 2 to validate the student’s technical and organizational skills
- A technological research project (PRT), developed in partnership with experts, enables the student to take a step back and work on a scientific or technological subject from a different angle
- a 600-hour final course project (PFE) carried out in connection with the student’s activities in the company.
- Final course project (PFE)
The student is placed in a situation of complete responsibility. He or she has to carry out an assignment entrusted by the company. This must be an industrial project that pulls together the two aspects of the sandwich course: academic training and on-the-job training. It is conducted under the supervision of two tutors (a company tutor and an academic tutor).
The project will be a targeted study, drawing on the scientific and technical knowledge acquired in the classroom. The organizational and economic aspects of business are also taken in account.
International
The level of English required at the end of the course is a score of 785/990 in the TOEIC test.
A minimum of 12 weeks’ experience abroad is required during the course:
- either on an assignment for the company that signed the apprenticeship contract,
- or an internship in a subsidiary, with a supplier or in a laboratory in a foreign university
Openings
Plastics engineers can exercise the following professions, as a project or technical manager in all sectors of the plastics or general industry (engineering, aeronautics, automotive, agrifood, chemical, etc.):
- design office: design of new products, from the drawing up of the specifications through to validation of the prototypes with the customer
- industrialization: design and implementation of new production processes. Definition/adaptation of workstations (health and safety, working conditions, etc.)
- production: implementation of new production management techniques (Lean management, etc.)
- maintenance: implementation of preventive maintenance, CAMM
- quality/environment: quality management, certification/management of raw materials, water, energy, etc.
Key figures about the course (graduate employment survey 2017 concerning students who graduated in 2016):
- time spent seeking work: 0.6 months
- median annual gross salary in France: €36K
Young graduates take up positions in the plastics industry, as well as all sectors of industry, but also in higher education and research.
Contacts
Thibault Parpaite, head of department
Marion Clauss, training assistant, 03 88 14 47 15
This course is organized in partnership with Polyvia formation: Mélanie Champeau, administrative manager