In the Parkview labs and study areas, 30 graduating IME seniors are busy checking calculations, organizing data, reviewing final recommendations, and putting the finishing touches on 10 presentations for the 38th Conference on Senior Engineering Design Projects [SEDP]. The projects represent solutions to problems facing business and industry.
Sponsored by the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the Conference is set for Tuesday, April 18, 2006, at the Parkview Campus. It is free and open to the public.
The IME presentations will be presented between 9:30 a.m. and noon. Dr. Bob White will chair five presentations in Room D-201, and Dr. Betsy Aller will chair five in D-208. Each presentation is limited to 30 minutes and begins promptly on either the hour or the half-hour.
Seven area manufacturers or organizations sponsored projects. Humphrey Products Co. sponsored a project by Crystal Hawkins, Mike Muller, and Paul Schmidt to reduce lead time and work-in-process in pneumatic valve manufacturing processes.
Parker Hannifin Corporation’s Brass Products Division is sponsoring the project of Yashowardhan Gokhale, Laith Kobaissi, and Joon Sau Lee to analyze a five-station work cell that produces brass and plastic fittings and improve its hourly production volume.
Seniors Tariq Ali, John Graver, and Tyeisha Smith redesigned a professional manicure electric nail file to improve functionality at a low cost in a project sponsored by JayCam Instruments, L.L.C.
Borgess Medical Center sponsored a project done by Erin Brown, Renae Hoglen, and Sarah Smallcombe to design a model for nurse staffing and scheduling in the neuro-ortho unit.
A project done by Elizabeth Evans, Michael Hoonhorst, and Melissa Sitler to effectively schedule and utilize emergency room environmental service associates was sponsored by Bronson Hospital.
Pamela Apotheker, Kayla Goostrey, and Suman Kovuri analyzed passenger flow through an airport security checkpoint in a project sponsored by Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport in cooperation with the Transportation Security Administration.
IME seniors Mike Muller (left) and Paul Schmidt complete the paperwork on a pneumatic-valve-related senior project sponsored by Humphrey Products Co.
Chip Bailey, Jeff DeLlowe, Jason Ruetz, and Mike Tolonen’s project to improve the efficiency of the production of easels was sponsored by Goodwill Industries & Employment Service and by a Learn and Serve America grant.
Brian Ladouceur, Jacob Wegrzyn, and Steven Yurgalonis applied sensors to a robot to improve its safe interaction with humans. James Hnetynka and Ben Jackson developed parameters to achieve the highest part quality and efficiency in low-pressure die casting of a university commemorative seal.
Eliezer Aponte, Charles Ponscheck, and Ryan Whitney used simulation software to compare shrinkage defects in gravity sand castings.
Several IME professors served as advisors for the projects: Drs. Steven Butt, Tycho Fredericks, Tarun Gupta, Azim Houshyar, Pavel Ikonomov, Leonard Lamberson, Sam Ramrattan, and Bob White. CEAS’ Dr. Edmund Tsang also served as an advisor.
The conference features a total of 82 projects by 217 seniors. More information is available at www.wmich.edu/engineer/senior-design-conf.php
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