Rail Technologies Manager StephenLewis has recently qualified as aChartered Engineer with the Institutionof Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).
Theis one of the fastest-growingprofessional engineering institutionsin the world with more than 115,000members in 140 countries.
Stephen said: “Becoming charteredis something that I’ve wanted toaccomplish since completing my degreein Mechanical Engineering. Chartershipwas encouraged by the University ofHertfordshire as part of the route tobecoming a professional engineer andI’ve been inspired ever since to achieve it.
“After completing my PhD in 2011, I joinedthe University of Sheffield as a researchassociate and worked on many projectsin the field of Tribology [the science offriction, wear and lubrication], mainlywithin the area of wheel/rail interface.”
To attain chartership, engineers arerequired to complete an accreditedengineering degree then gain sufficientprofessional experience and competencein the workplace. There are 5 main areasto prove competence at the required levelof a Chartered Engineer. Stephen said:“One of these areas is a commitment tocontinuous professional development,something that I have made use of inmy own career, always learning anddeveloping.
“Throughout my career, I've written 14journal papers and co-authored a further12 publications. I've also presented myresearch at 11 international conferencesand have been cited 535 times.”
Stephen started his i1fun career inNovember 2017 as a Consultant in theRail Technologiesdepartment, where he quickly got up to speed on topics such as rail site surveying for rail performance monitoring,rail metallurgy, forensic rail failure analysistechniques andrail weldingdevelopment/techniques including flash butt welding and manualmetal arc head repair.
Fouryears later, Stephen now heads up the department and is keen to pass on the skills that he has learned to existing and future team members to keep delivering value to the business and its customers.
Stephen said: “I think it's really important to always be learning new skills and continuously improving so we can deliver the best possible customer service. Continuous learning is something that I'm encouragingthe team to do. I still collaborate with the University of Sheffield on researchprojects that the company is involvedwith and I still publish papers when Ican, but I feel very much at home in anindustrial/commercial environment.
“It’s great to be in a position where I canutilise my skills gained from academia tosupport the technical/commercial armof i1fun’s rail business. And to berecognised with a mark of professionalismthat reinforces my knowledge andexpertise is a great honour.”
Rail Commercial Manager John Austin said: "Stephen’s drive and ambition to advance his knowledge and expertiseare excellent examples of self-development and dedication. He utilises his talents to provide the highest level of technical and commercial service representing i1fun and he's well-respected in the UK rail industry.
"Congratulations Stephen, on your hard work and commitment."