UM chemical engineering student Sidney Skovgard stands in front of the north plant of DuPont Nutrition and Biosciences in Memphis, where she is interning this semester. Submitted photo
Sidney Skovgard, a junior chemical engineering major at the University of Mississippi, is gaining lots of hands-on experience this fall as an intern at DuPont Nutrition and Biosciences in Memphis, Tennessee.
Skovgard analyzes quality assurance results from all production batches to generate weekly data for each production line. She combines that data with each production line’s rate and uptime performance to generate overall equipment effectiveness data for each line and for the plant as a whole. Skovgard communicates these metrics to the plant’s leadership weekly.
“My responsibilities really boil down to helping one of our engineers run both parts of our north plant,” said the Casper, Wyoming, native. “I spend a lot of time looking at optimal pH, temperature and pinion speed to avoid issues affecting the quality and the amount of product we are able to produce.”
Sidney Skovgard on campus. Submitted photo
In efforts to save the company around $1 million per year, Skovgard is continuing a multiple-part trial to increase yield in the plant. Started by Bryce Little (another Ole Miss chemical engineering student who previously interned at DuPont), Phase 1 involves setting up trials with different parameters altered to see how they affect the final product.
“Two major pieces of paperwork I have to fill out are a sitewide weekly metrics report and a monthly metrics report, which is sent for evaluation off-site,” Skovgard said. “Since this is such a large plant, a little difference in pH could amount to an increase in a large amount of product.”
Skovgard also has been contacting vendors to approve new equipment installations and working with the reliability engineer on site to determine which pieces of equipment are most critical to the function of the plant.
Skovgard’s work performance has been outstanding in several respects, said David C. Confer, manufacturing technology manager at DuPont.
“Sidney’s a self-starter who works well in a collaborative environment, and her technical competency is strong,” he said. “She has a ‘can-do’ attitude and delivers quality work with minimal oversight.”
Confer said Skovgard has taken the lead on designing a SharePoint site to facilitate collaboration within the plant’s manufacturing technology group.
“This virtual collaboration space has been especially crucial since several team members have been working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
Skovgard said her co-op happened at a fortunate time, as it gave her the opportunity to continue learning and working in the field she hopes to be in full time after graduation.
She said she chose to attend Ole Miss because she was tired of the frigid weather in Wyoming and Ole Miss has great resources and financial aid for out-of-state students.
“I was nervous to come here because I didn’t know anyone outside of Wyoming, but I have made great friends with a few people through the chemical engineering department,” she said. “I’m very glad I chose Ole Miss.”
Skovgard became interested in chemical engineering after taking Ch E 307 with professor John O’Haver.
“I have changed my major quite a few times, but after taking 307, I knew that Chem E would stick,” she said.
While Skovgard has never lived in a city as big as Memphis and would like to explore a bit, she said she recognizes the danger COVID-19 represents.
“I know a few people who have tested positive, one of them being a close friend of mine,” she said. “While he experienced mild symptoms, it was a very important reminder to always be diligent about washing my hands and social distancing from others.
“The virus is very real, regardless of how anyone else treats it,” she said. “Things will get better, but only if we all do our part.”