1. IE 8590 Capstone Design Project: Course Overview
Scott J. Mason, Ph.D.
Fluor Endowed Chair in Supply Chain Optimization and Logistics
Professor of Industrial Engineering

2. Course Objectives
Identify capital projects industry opportunities to apply industrial engineering tools and techniques learned in the Master’s of Engineering with emphasis in Capital Project Supply Chain (“M.Eng.”) curriculum
Apply a broad range of industrial engineering skills to solve these problems
Communicate the scope of and solution to these problems through both written reports and oral presentations
Document actual or potential savings in terms of ROI on M.Eng. degree program costs

3. Course Structure Students work in teams of 1-3 members
Size of project team will correlate with project expectations and deliverables
Could use IE 8580 discussion board for “Partner Wanted” ad
Work with current employer or other firm to identify an applied project requiring M.Eng.-specific skills
Potential for “project list” to be generated by companies to offer suggestions for project topics
Other student teams will iteratively define their project via regular discussions with course instructor (as quickly as possible)
Regular, frequent conference calls/online meetings with instructor early in the course will be necessary

4. Example Project Roadmap
Define a general objective
Value Stream Mapping
Define/document the current “as is” situation and value to customer
Identify opportunities for improvement
Focus down to specific objective(s)
Estimate savings potential
Apply industrial engineering methods and techniques
Use M.Eng. coursework and experience
Document (potential) improvements and resulting (estimated) savings
ROI and/or payback period in reference to degree cost

5. Large-scale process analysis
Example Projects
Location analysis
Site selection, location, and sizing of competing alternatives
Large-scale process analysis
Intermodal supply chain analysis involving location, capacity, and growth projections
Warehouse layout/re-layout
Facility layout, automation, and scheduling assessment
Load consolidation
Outbound freight flow analysis

6. Compile work into written documents
Course Structure (2)
Compile work into written documents
Project Proposal Document
Bi-Weekly Status Updates
Final Project Presentation
Final Project Executive Summary
PowerPoint-based oral presentation of results
Interactive presentation with faculty feedback/input
Project client invited to attend final presentation or project team could make an additional (potentially higher level) briefing to client

7. NUMERICAL (not contract) GRADING! Project Proposal Report (Word)
Course Requirements
NUMERICAL (not contract) GRADING!
Project Proposal Report (Word)
Early project definition and proposal submission is encouraged
Bi-Weekly Project Status Updates (Word)
Prior period’s progress
Planned progress for this period
Issues or road blocks
May necessitate preemptive conference call with instructor

8. Course Requirements (2)
Project Final Presentation Slides (PPT)
Assessed by instructor for
Organization
Content pertaining to project objectives, tasks, activities, and timeline
Deliverables
Grammar, formatting
Client acceptance (as documented by an to the instructor)
Project Final Presentation
Content
Delivery
Technical quality and accuracy
Completeness and clarity

9. Course Requirements (3)
Project Final Executive Summary (WORD)
Assessed by instructor for
Organization
Content pertaining to project objectives, tasks, activities, and timeline
Deliverables
Grammar, formatting

10. Course Project Goal
M.Eng. project teams will strive to document actual or potential savings from their efforts in order to quantify their company’s ROI on their M.Eng. degree program costs.
ROI could be measured against company’s existing rate for deciding on investment alternatives
Payback period could also be computed in terms of the length of the degree program

11. Assessment Plan
Proposal reports, final reports, and final presentations all will be evaluated in terms of
Organization
Content pertaining to project objectives, tasks, activities, and timeline
Deliverables
Industrial engineering tools and techniques applied
Validity of the analysis and conclusions

12. What Makes a “Good” Project?
SMART
Specific
Measureable
Achievable
Realistic
Timely
Important to its owner
Ripe for IE skills application
Of interest to the student(s) pursuing it