Over two stories in the air on a catwalk tour, the IU Kokomo’s Data Analysis class watched cars being assembled at Subaru of Indiana Automotive on Nov. 13.
The tour of the plant was approximately 1.25 miles long and stretched over several assembly and testing departments including tool & die, trim & final, stamping, and break testing. From coils of steel and aluminum weighing 37,000 pounds to the final testing of the horn, students got to watch almost every step of the car making process and learn about the different technologies Subaru utilizes.
One communication student, Layla Boggs, said her favorite part of the trip was “being able to see the processes that each individual car goes through to ensure the quality of the product.”
Because the class looks into how data analysis can be applied to different job fields, students were able to meet with a Subaru Communication Specialist and Data Analyst to discuss how their communication and data skills are used every day. Students were even able to see the online data storage and management systems being used in real time. Boggs also commented on how she could see her classroom content about data analysis in play through Subaru’s internal communication team.
“One way is making sure all PTO and requests off are put into a system that is coded with data that had been formerly collected by data associates. This just makes the whole process for Subaru seamless and easy to understand.” Boggs said.
Trips like this that bring concepts outside the classroom are important to students’ education for many reasons. Student Rene Semple said field trips are important to her because they provide “hands-on experiences.”
“I’m a learner who benefits from seeing concepts in action, and these trips help me understand how things are applied in real-world settings.” Semple said. Her favorite part of the tour was “seeing how a large roll of aluminum transforms into a fully functional vehicle.”
Boggs agrees with how useful class trips are, but expressed the importance of seeing how her degree can be utilized in unexpected job settings.
“[Class trips are] a new, fresh way to be able to hear information that is being taught in class by someone else. As well as being able to see the information that we are being taught turn into and be used in an actual profession.”
