Education

Courses(taught in recent years):

IE 348 – Solidification Processes;    This course investigates welding, metalcasting, powder metallurgy, polymer processing and electronic assembly.  The overarching theme of this course is to study what the manufacturing process can deliver in terms of the value they add to the final component.  Quality concerns, and methods to control them, are also included.  Hands-on laboratories provide another more in depth method to study the process.

IE 448 – Manufacturing Systems Engineering; Time to market is a critical factor in achieving a competitive advantage in today’s global market. Those organizations that are able to engineer their manufacturing systems rapidly and effectively will remain competitive. Those who cannot will disappear.  Some important topics included in the course include GD&T, fixturing, setup reduction, process planning, plant layout, line balancing, and make vs. buy decisions.  These topics support a company’s pursuit of lean manufacturing. 

IE 446 & IE 546 – Geometric Variability in Manufacturing; This course explores how to assess and control geometric variability which occurs in manufacturing processes.  Methods to design the component to accommodate the variability are also discussed.  Processes covered include welding, metalcasting, machining, powder metallurgy, circuit board assembly, and plastic injection molding.  The critical role of fixturing with respect to part variations is integrated into the course.  Assessment methods discussed include CMM’s, laser scanners, and prolifometers.

IE 588 – Information Systems for Manufacutring;  How to collect, manage and utilize data in a manufacturing setting is the central theme of this course.  Specific topics include vision systems, sensors, barcodes, RFID, and PLC’s.  The importance of, and methods for, product data management cycle is investigated.  Database design for manufacturing data management is another key topic. 

IE 501 & IE 601 – Research Basics and Communications; This 1-credit course, required for all graduate students, explores the fundamentals of research methods needed to successfully complete a good thesis or dissertation.  Critical written communication and presentation skills are also included.  Another key topic is academic honesty and how it relates to research tasks.