As Windsor’s NextStar Energy plant ramps up battery module production, local engineering students are gaining hands-on experience and honing skills vital to the region’s emerging electric vehicle sector.

A joint venture between Stellantis and LG Energy Solution, the plant is Canada’s first facility of its kind to begin production. Construction on the facility broke ground in 2022, with the project celebrated as a major win for the community, expected to create 2,500 jobs.

Among those jobs is the first cohort of co-op students from the University of Windsor, who have had the opportunity to play a role in the plant’s launch.

“Everything is new. It’s fresh,” said third-year electrical and computer engineering student Michael Schembri. “The technology is so advanced compared to what we’ve been seeing in the manufacturing industry over here. It’s exciting to be here from the ground up to really help get this plant running.”

Each of the seven co-op students was placed in the quality department with an individual mentor, working on a range of projects including data analysis, monitoring air quality (essential for battery production), learning to operate technical equipment, training each other, and programming, among other tasks.

Schembri said he’s helped establish process flows and procedures for the inspection team, while gaining new perspectives and connecting what he’s learned in the classroom — such as problem-solving and analytical skills — to the field.

“I work on a lot of different projects and get to bounce around, which has been great,” he said. “Overall, my experience has been great. Everyone’s very welcoming. I’ll walk by a lab and pop in to see if the technicians need help with anything. Through that, I’ve learned so much. It’s been an amazing place to grow, especially seeing the manufacturing process from the ground up — it’s been truly eye-opening.”

Adaptability and cross-functional skills are key qualities Krista Ammonite, quality planning manager at NextStar, said the company looks for when hiring students.

“Attitude is a big component,” she said. “We want to bring in someone who is looking to try something different, step outside their comfort zone, and be willing to help one another out. At NextStar Energy, we work together as a strong team.”

Part of Ammonite’s role includes being the primary contact, mentor, and facilitator for the co-op students. She ensures each student secures a valuable placement in one of the organization’s quality departments.

In addition to gaining hands-on experience, she said, the students, in turn, offer unique skills and a fresh perspective that help keep employees “on their toes.”

“While they’re transitioning from academia into the workplace, they have a lot of questions stemming from their studies,” Ammonite explained. “Those questions help us stay proactive in terms of programming and problem-solving — really getting to those dynamic solutions. They bring that skillset and energy, and their passion for learning is contagious.”

Third-year mechanical engineering student Lauren Schmidt said her term at the battery plant was “incredible” and allowed her to learn about and use state-of-the-art technology unique to NextStar.

“I’ve been using some software that’s specific to NextStar Energy to create data visualizations,” she said. “I was also able to create standard operating procedures for the different machines in the lab, as well as create video standard operating procedures for future training purposes.”

For Schmidt, the experience has also opened her eyes to potential opportunities right here at home.

“I’m focusing on aerospace engineering, and being at NextStar has really shown me that there are places in Windsor where I want to work,” she said. “I thought I’d have to move away for something like this, and it’s been so great to work with and be taught by actual engineers doing real-life projects in the field.”

Currently, all of the co-op students are from the University of Windsor, which Ammonite said is beneficial because the students already have strong ties to the local community. She added that having students with these connections sends a strong message about the programs NextStar is developing and the type of talent they aim to attract.

“We want to continue to have local talent as well as diverse talent,” she said. “The University of Windsor has done a great job sending professional young people to our workplace. They show up, they’re ready to work, they’re engaged, and they’re doing a great job.”

While the quality department spearheaded the pilot co-op program, other departments are planning to follow their lead and bring on more students.

Talent acquisition specialist and NextStar’s first employee, Cristina Mazza, said a key aspect of the program is to help establish a talent pipeline.

“We look for students that stand out,” she said. “So, hopefully, once they’ve had their experience here, they’ve enjoyed it and are interested in working for us in the future.”

Mazza said they are continuously building their team, especially as production continues to ramp up.

“We’re looking for talent within our community to grow with us,” she said. “We are going to be hiring a lot of engineers within our community, and having this relationship start from the beginning with the university is vital to our future.”

To learn more about the University of Windsor’s co-op program and workplace partners, visit uwindsor.ca/coop-workplace-partnerships.