Conference proceeding
Industry sponsored Capstone Project for Smart Manufacturing and Industry 4.0
ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, 2025
2025
Abstract
Engineering design challenges are inherently complex, demanding interdisciplinary knowledge and collaboration. In response to this need, our Engineering Technology (ET) program developed a capstone model that forms multidisciplinary teams to tackle industry-sponsored projects. These capstone projects not only offer students crucial educational advantages but also prepare them for future career demands by simulating real-world scenarios. This paper presents our systematic approach to soliciting industry-sponsored projects and guiding students in forming diverse teams to work on these challenges. It also highlights a specific industry-sponsored project in collaboration with IFM efector, Inc., which focuses on optimizing the assembly process through cutting-edge technologies like industrial PCs, Human Machine Interface Controllers, Various sensing and tracking devices and vision cameras. Our paper emphasizes the growing significance of project-based learning, noting its alignment with new technological trends such as Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing and assembly. The integration of smart and sustainable manufacturing in capstone topics mirrors this shift, contributing to the development of leadership skills, creativity, and innovation among students. With over 65% of capstone projects focused on manufacturing, energy, and sustainability, students engage with open-ended projects that reflect real-world uncertainties and require them to determine optimal solutions. Through this model, we assess students’ competencies and skills as they navigate the challenges of interdisciplinary collaboration and technological innovation. In addition, the paper delves into the supervision and evaluation methods employed in these projects, as well as the final presentations and reports that showcase student accomplishments. By analyzing the integrative approach used in these capstone projects, we demonstrate how industry collaboration and multidisciplinary education foster sustainable, innovative solutions in engineering design as it relates to manufacturing and assembly of products.
Metrics
1 Record Views
Details
- Title
- Industry sponsored Capstone Project for Smart Manufacturing and Industry 4.0
- Creators
- Yalcin Ertekin - Drexel UniversityIrina Nicoleta Ciobanescu Husanu - Drexel UniversityRichard Y. Chiou - Drexel UniversityTzu Liang Bill Tseng - The University of Texas at El Paso
- Publication Details
- ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, 2025
- Conference
- 2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition (Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
- Grant note
- Gene Haas Foundation IFM effector, Inc..
- Resource Type
- Conference proceeding
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Engineering Leadership and Society/Engineering Technology
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105027277295
- Other Identifier
- 991022154843004721