ENMA 278:  Lean Manufacturing

 

Student Outcomes

 


This class is designed to produce the following student outcomes (derived from ABET A-K):

 

1.  Apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering:  Students will apply knowledge of engineering to model production systems, evaluate flow, waste, and work-in-process problems, and recommend improvements and improvement metrics.

 

2.  Design and conduct experiments, and analyze and interpret data:  Students will use existing information on manufacturing systems to form models, and will analyze and interpret information in support of improvement recommendations and improvement metrics.

 

3.  Design a system, component, or process to meet needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability:  The primary educational objectives of this course relate to lean-based improvement of manufacturing system per the qualifiers cited in this student outcome.

 

4.  Function on multi-disciplinary teams:  As an element of the Masters Degree in Engineering Management Program, this course is attended by students from several graduate programs within the university, most of whom are part-time evening students coming from a wide variety of jobs.  A significant portion of the student’s grade in this course is determined by participation on a project team.  As a result of the diverse student demographic of the course and heavy emphasis on student team projects (50% the students grade), the course provides significant experience functioning on a multi-disciplinary team.

 

5.  Identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems:  The primary educational objectives of this course involve identification of flow, waste, and work-in-process problems in manufacturing systems, and recommendation of improvements and improvement metrics.

 

6.  Understand professional and ethical responsibility:  While the analysis and improvement of manufacturing systems pursued in this course emphasizes cost, quality, and delivery improvements, significant attention is placed on the potentially positive impact that lean approaches have on the manufacturing and management workforce.  Professional and ethical responsibilities related to implementation of lean systems are highlighted.

 

7.  Communicate effectively:  All homework assignment solutions are presented in class by students.  Student trams present oral updates and final oral presentations and also final written reports and project results posters.

 

8.  Understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context:  The global context and impact of lean system implementation is a fundamental element of this course.

 

9.  Recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning:  All Engineering Management program courses provide overviews of key topics relevant to the perspective, new, and practicing engineering manager.  The overviews are designed to provide the student with base-level knowledge, skills, and experience that enable and motivate the student to pursue specific elements that are relevant to their management environment.

 

10. Demonstrate knowledge of contemporary issues:  While lean systems have demonstrated superiority in a wide range of industries, businesses, and applications, this is not a universally accepted or applicable paradigm.  The suitability and ability to transition to lean approaches is a critical contemporary issue for business and industry.

 

11. Use the techniques, skills, and tools necessary for engineering practice:  “Lean thinking” is composed of a wide range of techniques, skills, and tools that have been proven to be extremely effective in improving the performance of manufacturing systems.  This course coupled with Engineering Management courses in design for six sigma, project management, and system analysis form the essential tool set for engineering managers.

 


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