Industrial Engineering Seniors Recognized With Awards for Two-Semester Capstone Projects

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Industrial engineering seniors were honored this spring for two semesters of work solving real-world problems alongside industry partners.

During the 2023-24 academic year, 42 industrial engineering seniors on nine teams participated in the Industrial Engineering Capstone Experience. The teams work on project problems provided by industry partners. They begin in their fall semester by getting to know their industry partner and the issues motivating the project. Students then perform preliminary analysis and define objectives for their spring semester work. They assess the potential impact of their work and create the deliverables that their industry partner will need to implement their work. Every student pursuing the Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering at the U of A is required to complete the two-semester course sequence. Richard Cassady, University Professor of industrial engineering, coordinates the Industrial Engineering Capstone Experience courses.

The experience concludes with the Industrial Engineering Capstone Symposium, which was held in the Arkansas Union Verizon Ballroom on May 1.

The awards presented included:

Team Awards

• Project of the Year: Rachel Thomas - team leader, Zayna Abu-Safe, Bennett Foret, Trent Sawyer and Luke Smith
  Project Title: Delivery Zone Definition with K-Medoids Clustering and Integer Programming
  Supported by: J.B. Hunt
• Outstanding Achievement in Data Analysis: Marshal Ray - team leader, Maryanne Attee, Jacob Dixon, James Jett and Seth Turner
  Project Title: Forecasting Backlog of Cross-Dock Operations Using Regression and Machine Learning Algorithms
  Supported by: ABF Freight
• Outstanding Achievement in Modeling: Blake Sooter - team leader, Katie Augsburger, James Fite, Nathanael Harris and Deniz Vural
  Project Title: Applying Markov Decision Processes to Optimize Aggregate Workforce Planning with Uncertain Funding Conditions
  Supported by: Infinity Labs LLC
• Outstanding Achievement in Decision Support: Addison Standridge - team leader, Carter Baldwin, Kevin Connelly and Joshua Smith
  Project Title: Improving Chicken Breast Production Scheduling through Pareto Optimization with VB.NET
  Supported by: Simmons Prepared Foods

Individual Awards

• Outstanding Team Leaders: Karleigh Eoff, Lathan Gregg and Rachel Thomas
• Outstanding Team Members: Katie Augsburger, Carter Baldwin and Luke Smith
• Outstanding Faculty Advisers: Professors Justin Chimka, Rob Curry and Kelly Sullivan
• Outstanding Industry Partners: ArcBest, J.B. Hunt and Marco

Other Projects

Additional projects the Capstone Experience teams completed were:

• Project Title: Designing a User interface with Excel VBA to Generate Rate Increases for Existing Low-Risk Accounts
  Team: Ellen Timmerman - team leader, Natalie Hernandez, Kaden Jones and Elias Theodore
  Supported by: ArcBest
• Project Title: Improving Radiology Productivity by Optimizing Planned Staffing Levels and Supporting Real-Time Adjustments
  Team: Karleigh Eoff - team leader, Charles Eason, Weston Harp, Du'Maurier Looney and Joshua Peetoom
  Supported by: Baptist Memorial Healthcare Corporation
• Project Title: Allocating Truck Yard Resources and Reducing Bobtail Miles
  Team: Kate Bowden - team leader, Riley Baker, Mackenzie Frederick, Hector Santillan and Santiago Schrader
  Supported by: J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.
• Project Title: Improving Table-Pack Work Cell Efficiency Using Intrinsic Motivation and Lean Manufacturing Principles
  Team: Gabe Hesington - team leader, Mitchell Cooksey, Joshua Jowers and Caleb Morris
  Supported by: Marco
• Project Title: Enhancing Automation Decisions Using Power BI Analysis and Linear Programming
  Team: Lathan Gregg - team leader, Sebastian Alborta, Austin Easley, Ashwin Narayan and Seth Rosenfeld
  Supported by: Tyson Foods

About the Department of Industrial Engineering: The Department of Industrial Engineering was founded in 1950, led by department head John L. Imhoff, who believed deeply in the global impact of industrial engineering. Today, the department averages over 200 undergraduate students (sophomore through senior) and over 40 doctoral and master's students. In addition, the department has three online master's degrees: the Master of Science in Operations Management, Master of Science in Engineering Management and Master of Science in Operations Analytics. These three programs alone enroll over 2,000 students each academic year. A wide range of practical research is conducted in the department in the areas of reliability, maintainability and quality engineering; transportation, logistics and distribution; health care systems engineering; manufacturing and automation; engineering management and big data; and data analytics in each of the five research centers housed in the department. To learn more about the Department of Industrial Engineering please visit our website.