Engineering isn’t just about designing and building tangible objects; engineers also are involved in
designing processes and procedures. Industrial and operations engineers often work to maximize
efficiency and profit of a production process. These aspects of engineering will be showcased in the lean
production project. Students will work in groups to design and improve a simulated production process.
We will show them how factors of waste in a production process can decrease both profit and employee
happiness. This project will highlight the necessity of teamwork and communication in engineering. It
also will expose the basics of an efficient production process and introduce the students to lean
manufacturing fundamentals.