Manufacturing Leadership Projects

Students complete an extensive project during the final year in the program, based on a real problem often identified in the companies where they work. The corporate-oriented Capstone project is directed at the solution of a manufacturing or services management problem or process improvement initiative. It enables students to broaden the educational experience and demonstrate the knowledge and skills essential to business leadership. The project provides immediate benefits to sponsoring organizations and is an excellent opportunity for students to gain visibility and recognition. Most projects result in substantial cost savings or improved efficiencies.

A list of previous capstone project titles, by year. 

  • Asset Calibration Study
  • BOTM Glue Related Complaints Reduction
  • Cover Cosmetic Acceptance
  • Improved Order Fulfillment Scheduling
  • Sheet Trimming and Handling – Garlock
  • Shrink Sleeve Label Capacity Expansion – Brook & Whittle
  • S&T Process Operations Cycle Time Improvement – Corning
  • THAAD Process Improvement – Moog
  • Column Packing – Bristol Myers Squib
  • Hidden Factory of Functional Retests
  • Reducing Operating Cost by Improved Product Quality Delivery
  • Internal Process Scrap Reduction – Taylor Metalworks
  • Test Parameters Communication Improvement Through Automation – ITT Goulds
  • Common RF Troubleshooting Solutions
  • Operator Qualification Test Site Improvement – Avangrid
  • Venture Participation Rate – BAE Systems
  • Laser Weld Dial Changeover – GM
  • Surface Oxidation Prevention – Raymond
  • Best Value Procurement – SRC
  • Design for the Supply Chain – Harris
  • Radar Antenna Yield Improvement – SRCTec
  • Developing and Implementing Integrated Supply and Demand Management Planning to Improve Operation and Inventory Performance – MKS Instrument
  • Test Operations Asset Management Program – Dresser-Rand
  • Lithium Ion Battery New Product Line – Raymond Corporation
  • Quality Laboratories Calibration Program Process Improvement – Bristol Myers Squibb
  • Reducing Lead-Time by Improving Work Instruction Availability
  • PLC Cubicle Production Cycle Time Improvement
  • Improving Utilization of the Ultra Contact Lens Manufacturing Platform
  • Improved Production Planning and Scorecard Development for IDEXX Business Unit at OrthoClinical Diagnostics
  • Improve Production of Load Center Assembly Area
  • Pre-Production: Lean Optimization of Process, Tooling, and Cell-Lay-Out
  • Integrate Lean Concepts by Using VSM to Improve a Low-Volume High Technical Production
  • Textile Scrap Reduction – AmesburyTruth    
  • Securing Toyota Business
  • X-Ray Product Build Efficiencies – Carestream Health
  • Internal Coating Weight Reduction – World Can
  • Reach Tractor Capacity Increase – Raymond
  • Downtime Reduction – Troegs Brewing
  • Combining Lean Principles and Test Automation Processes to Improve NPD Validation Testing – Keurig Green Mountain 
  • Reduction in Downtime for a Hydroformer Wire Change – Owens Corning
  • Inventory Turn Improvement – Lapp Industries
  • Reducing System Installation Failures
  • Seamless Parquet Process Improvement – Orafol
  • Better Management of Non-conforming Product Inventory – UTC Aerospace
  • Increase Asset Utilization by Reducing Planned Downtime – Progresso
  • Develop Demand Profile to More Effectively Plan Production – Fairport Brewing
  • Small Pressure Relief Device Cell – Qualitrol
  • Inventory Reduction – Moog
  • Pharmaceutical Product Process Validation – Janssen Pharmaceuticals
  • Failure Analysis and Warranty Returns – GE
  • Tool Room Inventory Reduction and Efficiency Improvement – Bausch & Lomb
  • Continuous Improvement in Process, Cell Design and Safety – DuPont
  • Multi-Mission Helicopter Spares Capstone Project – Lockheed-Martin
  • Improving Throughput – Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics
  • S41 Manufacturing – MKS Instruments
  • The Radio Factory – Harris
  • Creating a Self-Sufficient Work Cell – Brinkman Precision
  • Applying Lean to Improve Test Processes – Qualitrol Corporation
  • Applying Lean Practices to the Blow Molding Department at Zotos
  • Xerox Replacement Cartridges – Quality and Credit Project
  • Lean Process Improvements Enable Optimization of OEM Inventory, Logistics, and Material Handling – Harris RF Communications
  • Process Planning Improvements – AJL
  • Production Planning Tool Development – Graham Engineering
  • Supply Chain Process Improvement – Optimax
  • Lean Implementation – Marcho Farms
  • Optimizing Material Handling Processes – Kraft Foods
  • Lean Implementation at Corning Incorporated’s Sample Prep Technology Center
  • Utilizing Lean Manufacturing Techniques to Improve the Performance of the Computer Prep Lab – ITT’s Space Systems Division
  • Utilizing Lean Manufacturing to Improve Overall Manufacturing Productivity – Melles-Griot
  • Utilizing Lean Manufacturing to Improve Manufacturing of High Volume Line – Metalade
  • Improving Quality, Process Documentation and Process Capabilities – SCJ Associates
  • Improving On-Time Delivery – Tabtronics
  • Improving Material Handling and Processing – Advent Tool
  • Improving Cost Effectiveness of Processing and Repackaging of Toner Cartridges – Xerox
  • Improving Inventory Management of the Tool Crib at Caldwell Manufacturing
  • Approval XP & XP4 Digital Proofing System – Kodak
  • Business Improvement Project and Cell Implementation – Peko Precision
  • Integration of a Supply Chain System for the UTFS Product Line
  • Improving Cash Flow – Terry Precision Cycling
  • Increased Profit through Process Improvements – Bloch Industries, LLC
  • Set-up Reduction (SMED) in the Multi-slide Department
  • Process Improvements in Contact Lens Manufacturing – Bausch & Lomb
  • Process Improvements in Roller Manufacturing – Heidelberg Digital
  • Cost of Quality in Contact Lens Manufacturing – Bausch & Lomb
  • Integrated Production Management System – Commodore Machine
  • Plastic Molding Process Improvements – Alliance Plastics
  • Process Improvement and ISO 9000 – Badge Machine
  • Manufacturing Cell Improvements – ITT/Goulds Pumps
  • Inventory System Improvements – Gunlocke
  • Implementation of a Pull System – Lapp Insulator
  • GMS 35,000 square foot expansion – Genesee Metal Stampings Inc.
  • Camera Return Cost Reduction Projection – Kodak
  • Process Flow Reengineering of Gleason’s Workholding Business
  • Automotive Project – ITT
  • Formed Part Design – Bausch & Lomb
  • Photofab Project – Kodak
  • Cycle Time Team – Harris
  • RotaDyne
  • Ergo-Safe Design
  • One Time Use Camera Recycle-ability Project – Kodak
  • Study and Revamp of the New Product Development Process – Harris
  • Design Synchronous Distribution From Receipt to Dock Using Selected Parts – ITT Automotive
  • Improve Motor and Fan Blade Manufacturing/Assembly Processes to Reduce Variability and Eliminate Final Test – ITT Automotive
  • Improve New Product Business Cases – Kodak
  • Accelerated New Product Development – Sentry Group
  • Root Cause Analysis for Defective Software Reaching Manufacturing – Xerox
  • Design of a Remanufacturing Process – Xerox
  • Improve DIP Cycle Time by 400 percent – Xerox