Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering - Leading Process and Product Improvement

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Industrial Manufacturing Student Team Wins First Place at the ProModel's Competition

November 22, 2011

L-R: Sandra Petty (ProModel Academic Coordinator),
Kyle Naumann, Anna Kamphaus, and Kimberly Harms.

The CEAS Industrial Manufacturing Engineering student team received the first place award at the MedModel in the ProModel's Student Academic Competition held in conjunction with the 2011 ProModel Solutions Conference. And they did so without having to go through the final round of judging because the judges stated the team's report was of such high quality. The team members include IME Masters students Kimberly Harms, Anna Kamphaus, and Kyle Naumann.

The competition is for currently enrolled graduate and undergraduate university students. The students are invited to participate in one of three simulation contests using ProModel technology to design or improve a process or product/project portfolio in a company or organization.

The winning team was awarded a $2000 cash prize and the opportunity to communicate with simulation professionals from the Department of Defense, manufacturing, and service industries. They also had the chance to interview for simulation internships and employment.

CEAS Industrial and Entrepreneurial Engineering Team Takes 3rd Place in Accelerate Michigan Competition for $10,000 Prize

November 22, 2011

L-R: Dr. Steven Butt, Dr. Tycho Fredericks with student team members Joe Fodo, Dan Panozzo, Evan Maltas, and CEAS Dean Dr. Anthony Vizzini.

Speaking from experience I am confident most would agree that backing up to align your vehicle with a trailer by yourself can be a frustrating challenge. Three students from WMU’s College of Engineering and Applied Sciences came up with an idea to remedy this problem and it really paid off.

Winning 3rd place out of 298 student entries Dan Panozzo, Evan Maltas, and Joe Fodo were awarded $10,000 at the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition for their "Quick Hitch" idea.

The improved trailer hitch design is specifically made to help an individual connect their vehicle to a trailer without numerous attempts or the aid of some-one waving back and forth in an effort to try and guide you somewhere close to the spot you need to be. The hitch telescopes and rotates 180 degrees making it a much less challenging task to connect to a vehicle. The innovative hitch does this without losing any of the strength of a regular hitch.

Dan, Evan, and Joe are all students in the Industrial and Entrepreneurial Engineering Progam. Their product Quick Hitch, was developed in the product design course, IME 3010: Entrepreneurial Engineering II taught by Drs. Steven Butt, Tycho Fredericks, Azim Houshyar, Bob White and Mr David Middleton who are all very proud of the team's accomplishment, additionally the Quick Hitch group collaborated with Dr. KC O'Shaughnessy, Haworth College of Business, and his business students to gain valuable market insight.

The Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition was held at Eastern Michigan University's Eagle Crest Resort and the winners were announced Nov. 17th. The competition targets student concepts with longer-term business viability with potential to generate an immediate impact on Michigan's economy. With more than $1 million in cash winnings, the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition is the world's largest business plan competition.

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