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Introduction

  • The conversation begins with a greeting and an apology for the delay in starting the discussion.
  • The speaker expresses gratitude for the time given by the interviewee, who is from the IE (Industrial Engineering) team at Disney.

Background of the Interviewee

  • Education:

    • Majored in Industrial Engineering at Clemson University.
    • Conducted undergraduate research under Doctor Taif, primarily in the healthcare sector.

  • Graduate Program:

    • Enrolled in the BSMS (Bachelor's and Master's) program at Clemson.
    • Transitioned from healthcare project to a manufacturing project to fund the master’s degree through Doctor Taif.

Internship Experiences

  • Consulting Company:

    • Started a small consulting firm for the first summer internship.
    • Had a second manufacturing internship that was disappointing due to a lack of work.

  • Disney Internship:

    • Applied for Disney internships during junior year, started in the costume department as a project analyst intern.
    • Developed an inventory database management tool for the cosmetology area, enhancing operations for makeup inventory management.
    • Attended informal meet-and-greets to explore career opportunities related to industrial engineering at Disney.

Insights into Advanced Analytics

  • Understanding the Team Structure:

    • Interacted with members of the advanced analytics team, which originally belonged under industrial engineering.
    • Found out that a higher academic qualification (master’s or PhD) was required for this team.

  • Timeline of Experience:

    • Returned to Clemson to complete the BSMS program after the Disney internship.
    • Completed another internship with Southwest Airlines and gained some experience before returning to Disney for another internship, this time in advanced analytics.

Career Progression

  • Post-Master's Experience:

    • Graduated with a Master’s degree in December 2019.
    • Worked for two years as a simulation analyst at a consulting company before returning to Disney in April 2022.

  • Current Role:

    • Currently supports project developments, with a focus on future projects in Magic Kingdom. Recently transitioned to only supporting Magic Kingdom after previously working in EPCOT.

Job Responsibilities

  • Describes a typical work week:

    • Involves varying tasks based on the project phase being supported.

  • Development Life Cycle:

    • Blue Sky Phase: Initial brainstorming of concepts and ideas for new attractions, considering types of rides and capacities.
    • Concept Phase: Solidifying ideas, starting to provide engineering inputs like queue sizes and pathways.
    • Feasibility Phase: Determining if guest capacities can be met; building simulation models to assess guest loading processes.
    • Schematic Phase: Finalizing design drawings while ensuring all engineering requirements are met.
    • Design and Construction Phases: Onboarding consultants, active construction fieldwork, and adjusting designs during construction.
    • Test and Adjust Phase: Testing attractions, training cast members, and finalizing the handover to the park.

Department Structure

  • Breakdown of the different teams within the industrial engineering department at Disney.
  • Mentioned that rotations usually occur every 2-3 years, with opportunities to support different lines of business.
  • Discussed recent team dynamics and the individual's role in training new team members after the departure of senior staff.

Skills and Tools Used

  • Technical Skills:

    • Excel and VBA skills were highlighted as particularly useful, alongside a growing trend towards Python.
    • The importance of learning data visualization tools like Tableau.

  • Conceptual Skills:

    • Emphasized the importance of telling a story with data, understanding operational impacts, and going beyond mere observations.

Internship Experience and Skills Development

  • Interns often involved in task analysis, time studies, and observational studies in real operational settings.
  • Cross-functional team exposure is prioritized so interns can gain insights across different areas of the business.
  • Assignment to Teams: Generally random, with final assignments communicated shortly before the internship begins.

Interview Preparation and Expectations

  • Recommendations for handling the upcoming interview, including researching common interview questions and case studies.
  • Key aspects of the interview process were outlined, focusing on problem-solving and analytical thinking.

Personal Reflections

  • Highlights a favorite project - the new Cars Land at Magic Kingdom - emphasizing teamwork and positive collaboration as pivotal in their role.
  • The conversation concludes with appreciation for the discussion and encouragement for pursuing further questions.

Closing Remarks

  • Thanking for insights and assistance in preparing for the interview process, wishing best of luck and extending open lines for further assistance highly appreciated.