Students leading innovation at OPG’s Darlington Nuclear station
At a glance
- In July, OPG student interns led Darlington Nuclear’s first Maintenance Innovation Pitch.
- Several participants presented creative ideas that could potentially improve Darlington’s productivity and efficiency.
- OPG provides opportunities for the next generation by recruiting students from universities and colleges for paid-work terms directly related to their field of study.
With outside-the-box thinking, student interns are helping to lead innovation at OPG’s Darlington Nuclear Generating Station.
In July, the station hosted its very first Maintenance Innovation Pitch, a challenge dedicated to improving safety, productivity, and efficiency at the site through technology.
Leading the way were students Ali Kirmani, Adrian Brothers, Paul Hruda, Nicholas Barone, Roman Carvalho, Noah Binns, Kartikkumar Parekh, and Janie Cornish.
Participating as teams or as individuals, these bright students brought their creative ideas to a cross-functional panel of OPG judges from Training, Centre Led Functional Area Management, the X-Labs division, and Fleet, Engineering, and Corporate Innovation.
The participants did not disappoint.
As students, we are changing the industry through innovation. By fostering an innovative environment and investing in the growth and development of young students, we will be the change and leaders of tomorrow.Janie CornishStudent intern
A total of five innovative pitches to improve the Darlington site were evaluated on organizational impact, practicality, and comprehensive cost-benefit analysis.
One of the ideas that proved to be a hit with the judges was an OPG Maps application. The proposal would help users navigate through the Darlington station safely and efficiently by generating routes and directions based on the entered starting and destination points.
Station staff will now be working with the students to help move their ideas forward and deploy them in the field.
Cumulatively, the innovative proposals could generate more than $90,000 in annual cost savings for OPG.
“As students, we are changing the industry through innovation,” said participant Janie Cornish. “By fostering an innovative environment and investing in the growth and development of young students, we will be the change and leaders of tomorrow.”
As part of OPG’s effort to attract the right people to electrify life, the company actively provides opportunities for the next generation by recruiting students from universities and colleges for paid-work terms directly related to their field of study.
Learn more about the talented people electrifying life at OPG and current career opportunities at opg.com/careers.
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