Frontiers in Education Conference 2008

An International Facility Design Project

Thomas Lacksonen

University of Wisconsin-Stout, USA

Berna Dengiz

Başkent University, Turkey

Abstract

All engineering students need to understand international engineering topics to be successful engineers in today’s global workplace. Sending a few students in a program through study abroad is not sufficient. Teaching international engineering topics to all students in a program is effectively accomplished through international design projects. This paper describes a specific facilities design project for Manufacturing Engineering students. The paper also describes the lessons learned from developing and running the project.

American and Turkish engineering students worked together to create and implement the re-design of a Turkish a manufacturing facility. Kifas Ortopedik of Ankara, Turkey is a small company which manufactures and sells wheelchairs designed by Whirlwind Wheelchair, USA. Whirlwind designed a new product and expected a five-fold increase in production with this product. Kifas needed industrial and manufacturing engineering assistance to improve the efficiency and increase the capacity of their existing factory.

Turkish Industrial Engineering students in a Capstone Design class from Başkent University handled on-site data collection. American Manufacturing Engineering students in a Lean Manufacturing class from University of Wisconsin-Stout analyzed the data and developed layout designs. Four American students traveled to Turkey between semesters to visit the factory and to implement the initial phases of their design. They reported back to the college on their experiences. In the second semester, the Turkish students extended the project to complete their project.

The paper will explain critical steps in identifying projects and partners. Lessons will be discussed on successes and shortcomings in communications and operation of design teams across cultures. Finally, student learning outcomes will be shown.