Essay --

During my 3 years at Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) as a Maintenance Planning engineer, I breathed planning and organizing. Working for a multi-billion dollar enterprise, I saw the effects of operational efficiencies on the balance sheet. This relevant exposure has shaped my decision to pursue a career in Industrial Engineering, a field that strives to increase productivity and efficiencies by systematic study and innovation. Working at HPCL’s 7.6MMTPA refinery, I was a part of the team that ensured that all units were maintained well to operate at optimal capacity, round the clock. I was responsible for preparing schedules and planning for the men, machinery and material for maintenance activities. It was in this role that I experienced firsthand, the need and applicability of scientifically managed and optimized processes in the industry. During an outage of the Fluidized Catalytic Cracking Unit (FCCU), a faulty spare gasket had kept the start-up of the unit on hold. I was chosen to procure the replacement, for which I had to fly 500 miles on a moment's notice, having to manage the gasket as my luggage. This trip was satisfying, not just because it brought down the potential loss margins from $250,000 to $70,000, but because I learnt the importance of judicious planning in extenuating losses. After this, I led a 4 person team to catalogue and update equipment spare parts in a database. With lessons learnt during the previous outage, I compiled a checklist that leverages the database to streamline and double-check the material planning process, reducing the probability of a last-minute emergency. 28 months and 7 major unit shutdowns later, in January 2013, I was made team-lead for planning a revamp of a Crude h... ...nt of pursuing graduate studies is to enhance my existing knowledge and skills, so that I can realize my vision of unlocking the potential of process optimization in small and medium scale enterprises in nations with developing economies such as India. For now, though, my focus is on garnering specialized knowledge and skills and furthering my industry experience. UC-B is a college with professional expertise like no other. Being a part of the Graduate community at UC-B with their collaborative inter-cultural community will help develop my personality. The teaching approach at UC-B of encouraging by challenge is ideal for a passionate learner like me. With a hope that you will find the potent combination of talent and determination in me as something that will add value to the legacy of UC-B, I am looking forward to be a part of the esteemed UC-B graduate community.