Co-op/Intern Idle Time

Engineering co-ops/interns typically spend between 20% to 60% of their time being idle. A well-structured program tends to be on the lower side, while a more ad hoc progam tends to be on the higher side.

Also, when engineering students are hired for supervised projects, typically there are multiple excessive periods when they are non-productive, waiting for assistance.

Spotting idle time is often hard since co-ops/interns can easily look busy while accomplishing nothing of value.

Idle time erodes value for both the employer and the intern, costing the business productivity, project momentum, and future talent, while leaving the co-op/intern disengaged, under-skilled, and disconnected from the team.

Is this intern doing something constructive?

Idle Time is

Bad for the Company

  • Lost productivity from a paid role
  • Missed chance to develop and evaluate future hire
  • May reflect disorganized teams or company

Idle Time is

Bad for the Student

  • Wasted learning opportunity
  • Frustration, loss of confidence, or boredom
  • Negative impression of the company

“I felt like I was just sitting there waiting to be useful.”

Mechanical Engineering Intern

“I’d rather do meaningful work than sit around making good money doing nothing.”

Engineering Co-op

“…I find myself more days than not having literally no work or almost no work to do, and if I do have work it’s almost always mindlessly sifting through and reorganizing data. I try to ask the process engineers that I work under for work… but it just feels like I’m more of a burden than an asset.”

Process Engineering Intern Chemical Industry

“There were times when I felt like I was twiddling my thumbs… I often used these opportunities to talk with operators and learn…”

Intern Steel Industry

Don’t Surrender….

Use XPS Products to Defeat the Idle Time Monster!

XPS Products turn idle time into highly productive time by providing step-by-step instructions for co-ops/interns to identify and implement best practices to improve process efficiency.

Eliminating idle time turns lost hours into meaningful contributions, stronger skills, and a more committed future workforce.

Take Process Efficiency to the Next Level with
XPS Products!

Improve Process Efficiency. Reduce Costs. Develop Engineers.

Using Cell Phone to Collect Process Data