Job description (entire company, your department, etc.)
We operate the Tokaido Shinkansen and conventional lines in the Tokai region, and construct the Linear Central Shinkansen Line. I belong to the Mechanical Construction Department of the Central Shinkansen Construction Division and am involved in the construction of the Linear Central Shinkansen railcar depot. Specifically, I study the specifications and layout of the mechanical equipment of the rolling stock depot. I am constantly considering not only safe and efficient vehicle maintenance and other work, but also constructability and equipment renewal.
How does your study at Shibaura Institute of Technology apply to your current profession?
Although I do not actually draw drawings of equipment in my work, I feel that it is truly machine functional engineering because I think about what functions are required of the machines that maintain the vehicles and how they should be configured to achieve those functions. I had the opportunity to design and build a Stirling engine as part of my university training. I now realize that it was a good experience for me as a student, as it is the same in society to work together with colleagues to achieve a goal within a limited budget and time. On a professional level, my experience in thermo-fluid analysis in the laboratory has been put to good use in my current work, where I have opportunities to conduct thermo-fluid analysis.
What are you actually doing as a cross-disciplinary society, or what do you need to do to cross-discipline?
There are a wide variety of machines in a rail yard. Knowledge of electricity, such as how much power is needed to operate them and how much heat is generated, is essential. In addition, since the facilities for vehicle maintenance are located in buildings, it is necessary to have suitable buildings and infrastructure facilities prepared for them, so knowledge of construction is also necessary. We also make use of knowledge in various other fields such as civil engineering, control systems, and programming.
In order to cross-discipline, you only need a minimum base knowledge. Various technical terms are used in meetings, but if you have basic knowledge at the college level, you can research and deepen your knowledge on your own.
Message to Shibaura Institute of Technology Students
I hope that you will be able to pursue whatever you want to do during your college life. University is probably the last period of time when you can have relatively free time. By devoting yourself not only to your studies but also to the things you want to do, I think you will be able to lead a more fulfilling college life.