UP CLOSE: With Thomas Yen
homas Yen is manager of the ISyE Flexible Manufacturing Cell (FMC) Teaching Lab, where he introduces students to computer-integrated manufacturing, assists faculty with curriculum development, trains teaching assistants, and teaches lab classes. He is an assistant manager of the UW-Madison RFID Lab and operations manager of the Ergonomics Analysis & Design Consortium. Yen also is an instructor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and the manager of the Bio-instrumentation Teaching Lab (BTL). “I encourage faculty and students to use me as more than a lab manager as someone who can assist them with all aspects of their teaching and research needs,” Yen says.
What brought you to UW-Madison?
My affiliation with ISyE began in graduate school where I received my PhD in human factor and ergonomics. I worked in ISyE for several years as a scientist and instrumentation innovator before moving to BME, where I continued to conduct research in human factors. About two years ago, I become more involved in teaching and the management of the BTL. During this time, ISyE was looking for someone to manage the FMC lab. I accepted this as an opportunity to return to my interest in computer-based automation and robotics.
What are some of the things students learn from you?
I’m one of the instructors for the BME design course, where we teach students the engineering design process. The success of a design is not simply that it does what it was designed to do, but also that the operator can use it with the least amount of errors and difficulty. My area of focus is in the design and evaluation of the user interface that can produce the most efficient operation with the least amount error.
What are some of the most common instrumentation design challenges students face?
The most common challenge I see is teaching students not to over design. With so many design software and tools available, it is very easy for students to explore and produce very elaborate designs. The students often forget economic and manufacturing constraints. I make it an important part of their education to remind them that a simple design is sometimes the most elegant approach.
How do your various roles in the College of Engineering complement each other?
The same approach and process can be used to find a solution, but the application of the solution must be tailored for the target group. There is definitely a complementary synergy in my work with the consortium and teaching labs. What I learn and experience with one group can benefit and improve the outcome for the other group. Nothing is wasted. This is why I love my job.
