In MMSE 850 Process Design and Improvement - Computer Based Tools, instructors Sameer Kumar, Ph.D., and Marvin Seppanen, Ph.D., insist they've created a course that makes the complex process and tools of computer modeling more accessible to nonspecialists. And they want to see the tools more widely applied. The objective of the course is to introduce students to the current software and methods used to organize data and model manufacturing and industrial systems. Students then apply computer tools, Visio for process mapping, Excel for data organization and Arena for process simulation, to problems from their work places. In the fall 2000 course, student projects included modeling layouts for the manufacturing of an electronic stethoscope, factory sterilization of an implantable product, and wafer fabrication.
Most people only know a small part of their overall system.
This gives them a way to see the big picture. But because the software is expensive and the work tedious, many companies that might benefit from computer modeling, avoid it. Both Seppanen and Kumar believe more companies can benefit from a look at a virtual representation of their operations. The two are writing a text book based on the MMSE 850 course, and both serve as industry consultants. Kumar recently won a Star of Excellence award from Medtronic for his work there.