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In our latest careers interview blog, Victor Luque tells us about how he uses 3D printing in his current role and about the career path that has led him into his current position.
Victor currently works in the Automotive industry as a Control Engineer / Programmable Logic Controller Specialist for BMW.
About Your Education
What subject areas/qualifications did you study for?
I studied for a degree in Industrial Electronics and Automatic Control Engineering.
Did you have to undertake any further training during your career in order to progress into your current role?
Yes I undertook another two qualifications, Computer Applications Programmer and Technician on Automated Industrial Systems.
About Your Career
Tell us a little bit about your career leading up to your current role?
I finished my full time education and I started my degree in Industrial Electronics and Automatic Control Engineering. After 2 years I started to work in a newspaper factory (a few months) and then I started as computer technician in government company. After finish my degree, I decided to do training to be a Technician on Automated Industrial Systems. Then I started another qualification to be a Computer Applications Programmer (Java, C, C++)
About Your Current Role
Briefly describe your current role, what do you do?
-Provide specialist analysis programming PLC’s (Programmable Logic Controller) and Robots within the factory.
– Evaluate and analyse complex data and issues from the manufacturing and control systems in order to provide permanent solutions.
– Teaching PLC S7 programming intermediate level to improve the programming skills over the maintenance teams, improving their response to fix small breakdowns.
– Develop and implement new business systems to ensure best working practices within the technology.
– Plan and develop upper level management systems in line with improvements and changes.
– Liaise and communicate with both external and internal suppliers as required.
– Lead, control and manage teams in Major Break downs or complex situations.
– Optimize equipment to resolve recurring problems to ensure optimized levels of technical availability.
What skills do you need for your role?
Advance – Mechanical, electrical and technical qualification with additional specialist knowledge.
Advance – Experience of technical equipment within an automated process environment.
Advance -Problem solving and communication skills
What do you enjoy about your role?
Every day is different as we could have any type of issue. Since a simple breakdown to a major breakdown where I need to find the problem in the PLC code.
Do you have any further career aspirations or plans?
I will start a development plant to be a Specialist planner where all the skills required need to be Senior. This will allow me to prepare the following MINI car models in the future included another projects cooperating with other BMW plants.
About 3D Printing
What benefits does the use of 3D Printing bring to your role and/or organisation?
3D printing can bring new gripper parts for our robots to save money when these need to be replaced.
How do you feel the future of your industry will benefit from 3D Printing?
I think 3D printing will bring new ways to improve the car industry in order to make the process much cheaper.
How can our education system best prepare our young people for job roles of the future in your field?
Having more practices in an Industrial environment, involving them with electronics components, robots and 3D printers once the theory has been learnt.
Finally…
What advice would you offer to students that may be interested in pursuing a career in this field?
Study as much you can (study what you like) and be willing to learn new things all the time.
The CREATE Education Project would like to thank Victor Luque for sharing the details of his career with us. You can learn more about BMW Production at: