Steris
Internship Success Story
Supporting Continuous Improvement Across Multiple Projects
Steris had several projects to complete within its Continuous Improvement department. APC intern Olivia Simmons worked alongside Steris employees to support projects involving surgical instrument identification, surgical gown patterns, and surgical drape tape.
Each project required research, testing, and analysis to help Steris improve product quality, reduce waste, and make informed process decisions.
Project One
Surgical Instrument Identification
Steris needed an easily recognizable identifier for metal surgical instruments that could meet several technical and regulatory requirements.
Olivia led research and experiments involving the liquid conversion of ceramic identification inserts used on surgical devices.
Her analysis considered biocompatibility, adhesion, viscosity, melting and boiling points, color options, and the ability to withstand autoclave conditions.
The research and testing results gave Steris useful information for evaluating the most appropriate instrument-identification method.
Project Two
Optimizing Surgical Gown Patterns
Steris also needed updated surgical gown patterns that would match incoming outsourced gowns.
Olivia used AutoCAD and SolidWorks to create new patterns for all four surgical gown sizes.
The redesigned patterns helped Steris streamline production and reduce the amount of material scrap created during each gown cut.
Project Three
Analyzing Surgical Drape Tape Performance
Steris had received customer complaints involving surgical drape tape supplied as part of a purchased product.
Olivia reviewed the complaints and studied the variables that could affect tape application and performance.
She conducted several studies and related experiments, including comparisons of the pull strength of older tape lots and newer tape lots. The findings helped Steris better understand the issue and evaluate potential corrective actions.
Measurable Results
Total Project Impact
$2,531,290
Estimated financial impact generated through the internship projects
Internship Value
Applying Engineering and Analysis to Real Business Needs
Olivia's work supported several areas of Steris's Continuous Improvement department and demonstrated how student interns can contribute meaningful research, technical design, and product analysis across multiple projects.
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