The project involves improving efficiency for the receiving docks; we want to reduce the time it takes for incoming parts to be processed. Right now, the process is very hard to understand since we have only seen it a few times. The key to understanding any process is to break it down into steps, and find the root of the problem. This will be especially challenging due to the high volume of parts Kenworth receives daily for its trucks.

Since the project involves Six Sigma, we follow through a sequence of steps: Design, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control. This quarter we primarily focus on the design, measure, and analyze steps. This involves creating how data is to be collected and measured, along with analyzing the system's current capability, and design.

Senior design is the most valuable and challenging class, I have been in thus far. Working for a company provides the real world experience that I need to succeed in my own career. I look forward to providing Kenworth with a valuable solution that can save them money.

This past weekend the group traveled to Lexington, Kentucky to visit two companies: Toyota, and Makers Mark. Toyota was a completely new experience for me; I have never been to a manufacturing plant where so many IE lessons are practiced. We saw assembly lines, robots, AGV’s (Automatic Guided Vehicles), Kanban usage, and Six Sigma techniques. These examples are just a few practices that Toyota has instituted to improve efficiency, reduce costs, improve quality, and most importantly improve customer and worker satisfaction. I am glad we are able to go on these tours because it really gives real world knowledge of things we learn every day; it allows me to understand these lessons better and offer insight to problems.

I would really recommend joining any of the engineering organizations to all the incoming students. It is a great way to meet those people you share class with every day. It also gives you a great opportunity to network; I have met members from other schools around the country.

Every year I like to start off my Halloween by carving pumpkins. This year I decided to show my bobcat pride by carving the iconic paw print.

Another activity that Halloween brings is going to a haunted house. This weekend a few friends and I will be going to either “The TerrorFest” which is located in the brewery district or “Dead Acres” which is located in Pataskala. I have not been to a haunted house in a long time so it should be a fun event.

The program that is being utilized is called SIMIO. In the screenshot you can see customers entering and leaving the system, as well as patrons at the table area (this is represented by the cans in the queue). The main focus of building these models is to show how long customers might have to wait to get a drink, as well as the worker utlization. In this model it was discovered that less than 50 glasses could be used, reducing the amount of inventory needed on hand. Also worker utlization was increased after I added a second serving station. Models such as these give engineers valuable tools to make decisions or to relay information. They can help save costs and increase productivity for various systems.