AJ Graduate Application Consulting
SAMPLE - SOP
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Statement of Purpose
Career goals and graduate study
My career goal is to work on the various challenges that manufacturing industry presents today. Be it energy inefficient production systems or supply chain management, there is a huge scope of improvement. During my undergraduate study, I worked on two papers: “Inventory Optimization in Supply Chain” and “Analytical Network Process (ANP)”. The erudition gained while working on these two papers made me realize how unscientific decision making severely handicaps the integration of new technologies with contemporary production framework.These papers, along with my undergraduate courses, provided me an insight into the problems of manufacturing sector, which I want to investigate further. A Masters program in industrial engineering would be instrumental in enhancing my technical expertise and knowledge base in industrial engineering, especially in areas of manufacturing processes, production systems and supply chain management. I am keen to explore how energy efficient techniques can be imbedded in currently traditional set up and how self-sustainable supply chains can be institutionalized. I am also looking forward to delve into the field of industrial economics, because economic interests are indispensable factors in any industrial setup. I wish to follow up my Master‟s degree with a PhD, to pursue a career in research and consultancy and thus experience the associated excitement and satisfaction.
Academic Background
Ever since my early schooling days, I had a strong desire to land up in a premier Engineering college. It was a high point in my academic career when I secured admission at the coveted Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani. Initially, I got admitted to the Masters of Management Studies (MMS), but the course on “Workshop Practices”, in first semester, made me inquisitive about mechanical engineering. After a prolific first year, I was amongst the top ten students (out of 700) who were offered an opportunity to take transfer to the department of their choice. It was then, that I chose to pursue Bachelor in Engineering (BE) in Mechanical Engineering. I got A‟s or B‟s in all courses I took during my undergraduate. This reflects the all round development of my cognitive skills. I have gone out of the regular course structure to satiate my thirst for knowledge. I completed the course on optimization in the third semester itself, as an over load, which
is normally structured for the fifth semester. I took up electives and projects so as to gain perspective in the importance and relevance of Industrial Engineering (IE). I opted for electives like “Flexible Manufacturing Systems” and “Production Planning and Control”. In my paper on “Inventory Optimization in Supply Chain”, I had developed a MATLAB code to compare two strategies of inventory control- „traditional single delivery method‟ (EOQ) and „Just-In-Time‟ (Single Setup Multiple Delivery) model. I have uploaded it on my webpage for your kind reference. In the seventh semester, I enrolled for a Master level course on Finite Element Method (FEM). In the class of graduates, I was the only undergraduate student. I scored the highest grade in this course and won special appreciation from the distinguished faculty teaching this course. Such a performance is an indication of my highly competent mathematical aptitude. However, in the same semester, I met with
a road accident which precluded one month of class work. Once hale and hearty, I had to prioritize my courses. During my final semester, I did my internship at Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank Corporation (HSBC). This internship helped me to consolidate my understanding of application of finance concepts in an industrial setup. I am sure that this experience would help me learn the subtle concepts of finance courses that are structured for graduation program in Industrial Engineering.
Professional History
Upon graduating from BITS, to gain field experience, I chose to take up a job with NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation) ltd. NTPC is the largest company in Indian power sector, generating about one third of the gross electric power demand in India. I am working in the commissioning of upcoming nuclear power plant at Kudankulam, India. I am the engineer-in-charge for sea water systems and chlorination plant. This is where I learned to apply the mechanical engineering principles and lessons of general management in real life situations and transformed my interest in system engineering into a passion. I, along with my team, have successfully commissioned these systems well on schedule. My team was awarded the CMD medal of excellence for our work on the chlorination plant. My field experience in power sector makes me an asset for research in the fields of manufacturing processes and Production systems.
Why Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University has one of the most reputed graduate programs in Industrial Engineering, both in terms of experienced and distinguished faculty and state-of-the-art infrastructure in addition of a milieu replete with academic activities. From a careful study of the department‟s brochures, which offers rich blend of supply chain courses and courses on optimization of various production activities, I have realized that there is perfect synergy between my aspirations and what your university offers. My research interests overlaps with Don T. Phillips‟s specialization in lean manufacturing and with Prof. Sila Çetinkaya‟s expertise in Supply Chain management. Moreover, Virtual Manufacturing and Augmented Reality Laboratory for research in manufacturing and production systems, under Prof. Amarnath Banerjee, is a unique facility available only at Texas A&M University. With the prolific academic record and field experience behind me, I am sure to contribute firmly to the ongoing research in this domain. Further, culturally diverse and rich environment, at your university, will provide me a perfect platform to enhance my skills and expand my horizons. It would, therefore, be a privilege to be able to secure admission to pursue graduate studies, with adequate financial assistance at the Texas A&M University.