Q: Hello Prasoon, can you tell us more about yourself?
Prasoon: I was born and raised in New Delhi, India. I have always been passionate about logistics and I take note of the variety of problems experienced by many supply chain companies. After completing my Bachelors, I worked as a civil engineer.
Q: Home is a distance away from Singapore. Making the decision to study miles away from home, was it a difficult decision?
Prasoon: While working on improving the current transport situation in India, I realized my true interest, was towards process optimization. I looked for a Master’s programme which could provide me sufficient depth in both the technical and managerial aspects of the term ‘logistics and optimization’. It was a win-win situation when I came across TUM Asia’s programme.
Q: What is one special memory from your studies at TUM Asia?
Prasoon: I enjoyed visiting new places. In Singapore, I was able to take time to view the skyline from the infinity pool at Marina Bay Sands. In Munich, I experienced the famous Oktoberfest. These all form special memories of my time at TUM Asia.
Q: Tell us more about your internship experience.
Prasoon: I found my interests inclined towards production planning and control in a supply chain setting. I was selected as a corporate supply chain innovations intern and master thesis student at Infineon Technologies AG in Munich, Germany.
Q: Any advice for your juniors when searching for an internship?
Prasoon: The most important part of finding an internship is to know where your true interests lies. Once you know that, everything will fall in place. Everybody will say stick to the basics, but be brave and confident to challenge the status quo. My advice is to find the right sources, but approach each of them differently.
Q: Can you tell us more about your day-to-day responsibilities at your internship?
Prasoon: I was placed in the corporate supply chain innovations team. My task was to use simulations as a tool to empower the company with the lean production strategies and apply the same. The project that I worked on aimed to design, use, and test the innovative ideas and algorithms to improve the production scheduling of lots by leveraging the help of modelling and simulations. Other basic day to day activities involved team and solo presentations both at strategic and technical levels, as well as participations in supply chain colloquiums and networking events.
Q: What is something that you think that your internship has given you?
Prasoon: I had the chance to gain international exposure in Munich, Germany. By getting to know the cultural, technical and managerial aspects of a German company, I am certain that I am ready for any challenge in the future.
Q: Now that you have come to the end of your Masters, what’s next for you?
Prasoon: My interest lies in the broader area of process optimization through lean supply chain strategy and techniques and effectively communicating the advantages to the company. I want to lead by bringing sustainable and positive changes, as well as provide a platform for young brains to foster their supply chain knowledge and ideas.
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Prasoon Vats is from the TUM Master of Science in Transport & Logistics programme. More information about the programme here >>
This interview was published in the DIGEST Sept – Dec 2017 issue >>
