Engineering Excellence: The Journey of Twins Joshua and Luke Smith in Industrial Engineering

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Joshua and Luke Smith

Industrial engineering seniors Joshua and Luke Smith have secured positions with Lockheed Martin after graduation. As twins pursuing similar career paths, their journey — though not initially planned — showcases the power of familial influence, individual growth and the undeniable connection between siblings.

The story begins with the two navigating the uncertainties of their freshman year during the height of the COVID pandemic. Initially drawn to different engineering disciplines, the twins found themselves contemplating chemical and mechanical engineering after watching virtual presentations about the various engineering options. In the end, they shared the decision that industrial engineering was a better fit for their strengths and personalities.

Luke's Story

Luke shares, "We didn't plan on being the same major or even attending the U of A together. It was the encouragement of our family that influenced our decision." Despite their initial divergence in choices, Luke found his calling in industrial engineering after completing his freshman year. He is interested in being a "floor" industrial engineer, where he designs production layouts and processes to enhance productivity, reduce costs and maintain quality standards. This passion motivated his minor in engineering management, reflecting his goal of advancing into engineering management roles as he progresses with Lockheed Martin.

Having completed an internship with Lockheed Martin, Luke feels well prepared for a full-time position, citing the hands-on experience of working as a floor industrial engineer as a pivotal learning opportunity. His long-term goals align with Lockheed Martin's values of "Do What's Right," "Respect Others" and "Perform with Excellence."

Reflecting on his academic experiences, Luke emphasizes the importance of building connections within the Industrial Engineering Department. He credits these connections for enhancing his teamwork and technical skills, a sentiment that extends to his internship at Lockheed Martin, where he found a supportive community eager to help him learn and grow.

Joshua's Story

Joshua's journey into industrial engineering took a slightly different route. He knew he wanted a STEM degree, starting with chemical engineering, before finding his true calling during his freshman year. Despite not planning to enter the same field as his brother, Joshua found himself immersed in industrial engineering.

Joshua's interests in data analysis, production, productivity improvement, databases and engineering management resonate well with the multidisciplinary nature of industrial engineering. His partnership with Luke on various group projects showcased their complementary skills, with Luke excelling in databases and the programming language SQL, while Joshua delved deeper into the data analysis tools Tableau and Excel.

Their internships at Lockheed Martin, though separate, allowed them to leverage each other's strengths, laying the foundation for continued collaboration post-graduation. Joshua emphasizes the networking benefits of being twins, providing mutual support and assistance at work.

As Joshua approaches his last semester, he reflects on the value of thinking like an industrial engineer, enabling him to learn quickly, solve problems efficiently and strive for continuous improvement. He finds enjoyment in his productivity improvement course, recognizing its potential to benefit both his career and future endeavors.

Expressing his overarching career goal, Joshua simply states, "Enjoy what I do, and if I am making a good living, I can't ask for much else." Joshua emphasizes the importance of making connections as the most valuable lesson from his academic and professional journey, stressing that these connections and shared moments outside of work and school contribute to a more enjoyable and fulfilling career.