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Projects
Students conduct projects for QRM member companies in multi-disciplinary teams as part of the capstone class -- ISyE 641: Design and Analysis of Manufacturing Systems -- or as independent study projects. They make multiple visits to a company over a 3-4 month period, investigating elements of a selected process or area determined by the company. Using their classroom training in QRM principles, the students gather data, then conduct detailed analysis using sophisticated computer programs to formulate and present recommendations to companies to help them achieve their lead time reduction goals. All projects are conducted under faculty guidance, and students commonly draw upon the wide expertise of UW-faculty in addition to their own prior experiences in developing solutions to company problems. The QRM Center has engaged in almost 200 projects with industry over the past 15 years. The following are recently completed projects:
Eyeballing the Problem: Reducing Waiting
Time in Retina Services
Wisconsin Eye Institute (Waukesha, Wis.)
Reducing Flow Time and Increasing
Throughput in Double Drum Roller Assembly Line
Wacker Corporation (Menomonee Falls, Wis.)
Reducing Office Lead Time for
Orders of New Custom-Engineered Equipment
Schenck AccuRate(Whitewater, Wis.)
Reducing Lead Time in Heat Treat Facility
that Supports High Variety of Products
P&H Mining Equipment (Milwaukee, Wis.)
Industry Feedback
"Working with the QRM student team was a very positive experience for all of the P&H team members. The students were able to establish credibility with shop personnel as a result of their quick grasp of product and production information and the level of understanding they demonstrated through their questions. Investigations into current operations resulted in positive challenges to existing manufacturing practices and prompted creative thinking across the entire team. Recommendations resulting from the project have provided P&H with a number of ideas which can be incorporated into future lead time reduction initiatives."
—Brenda Hanamann, Manufacturing Product Manager, P&H Minning
Projects Archive
Students of ISyE641 Spring 2008 class with instructor Debjit Roy (centre)
(Click on photo to enlarge)