Multidisciplinary problem-based industrial engineering project

• Main Author: Kuptasthien, Natha
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English
• Published: 2007
• Subjects: LB2300 Higher Education
• Online Access: http://repo.uum.edu.my/1628/1/MULTIDISCIPLINARY_PROBLEM-BASED_INDUSTRIAL_ENGINEERING_PROJECT.pdf; http://repo.uum.edu.my/1628/

The new paradigm for engineering education nowadays expects new engineering graduates from universities to have more qualifications in both technical and enterprising skills. This paper objective is to discuss a success story of setting multi-disciplinary project groups to solve problems occurred in a case study of an industrial company. The final year of an industrial engineering undergraduate program at Rajamangala University of Technology Thunyaburi requires a 3-credit in Industrial Engineering Project. A student team has a year to search for topic, conduct the study and make final conclusion. The cooperative partner is a well-known Thai herbal company. The project methodology included a visit to the company and discussion with the executives, defining problems and study scopes using various techniques, setting up a project team, gathering data, analyzing data, suggesting action plans to solve problems, implementing the proposed plan, evaluating results and making a final conclusion. The project team integrated multidisciplinary areas of marketing, financing and industrial engineering. The results showed magnificent outcomes in marketing, financing and production. Marketing department had a successful re-branding launch. The shareholders agreed to invest more money to strengthen the financial status. Moreover, there were some productivity improvements from production department.