UW Madison | Manufacturing Systems Engineering

The MSE program breaks down barriers between classroom theory and practical job experience in conducting student projects with area companies. Students conduct these projects in multi-disciplinary teams as part of the capstone class -- ISyE 641: Design and Analysis of Manufacturing Systems -- or as independent study projects. They make multiple visits to a company over a 3-4 month period, investigating elements of a selected process or area determined by the company. Using their classroom training, the students gather data, then conduct detailed analysis using sophisticated computer programs to formulate and present recommendations to companies to help them achieve their lead time reduction goals. All projects are conducted under faculty guidance, and students commonly draw upon the wide expertise of UW-faculty in addition to their own prior experiences in developing solutions to company problems.<

The most valuable feature of the program for me, is project work. During the four semesters, I was working on five different projects consulting local companies on their lead time reduction efforts. In student teams advised by faculty, I was working on real-world problems at the respective companies with true responsibility for overall system analysis and timely definition of the outcomes.

- Andreas Nitzsche, MSE Graduate '98

Over the past decades, MSE students have investigated, analyzed and helped companies from many different sectors, from manufacturing to biotechnolgy to healthcare. Following is a list of past projects.