Lean Manufacturing and Automation Project Management

MEC 380 provides an in-depth exploration of lean manufacturing concepts applied within the context of industrial automation project management. Students will learn to identify and eliminate waste, measure overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), and apply critical project scheduling techniques for complex technical endeavors. The curriculum covers comprehensive budgeting and cost control, risk assessment, and detailed commissioning planning to ensure successful project implementation and operational readiness. Emphasis is placed on developing a holistic understanding of how lean principles drive efficiency and how robust project management practices ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to specification, ultimately enhancing productivity and profitability in manufacturing environments.

Course outline

Lectures, virtual labs, and graded assignments — completed in your browser.

01Lesson 1: Introduction to Lean Manufacturing Principleslecture

02Lesson 2: Value Stream Mapping and Waste Identificationlecture

03Lesson 3: Introduction to Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)lecture

04Hands-on Lab: OEE Data Collection and Analysislab

05Lesson 5: Foundations of Automation Project Managementlecture

06Lesson 6: Project Scope Definition and Work Breakdown Structureslecture

07Lesson 7: Project Scheduling Techniques: Critical Path and Resource Allocationlecture

08Hands-on Lab: Project Scheduling Software Applicationlab

09Lesson 9: Project Budgeting, Cost Control, and Financial Analysislecture

10Lesson 10: Risk Management and Mitigation Strategies in Automation Projectslecture

11Hands-on Lab: Project Budgeting and Risk Assessment Simulationlab

12Lesson 12: Commissioning Planning, Testing, and Handover Procedureslecture

13Lesson 13: Continuous Improvement and Post-Implementation Reviewlecture

14Capstone Service Project: Lean Automation System Design and Project Planassignment

Syllabus

["Week 1: Lesson 1: Introduction to Lean Manufacturing Principles","Week 2: Lesson 2: Value Stream Mapping and Waste Identification","Week 3: Lesson 3: Introduction to Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)","Week 4: Hands-on Lab: OEE Data Collection and Analysis","Week 5: Lesson 5: Foundations of Automation Project Management","Week 6: Lesson 6: Project Scope Definition and Work Breakdown Structures","Week 7: Lesson 7: Project Scheduling Techniques: Critical Path and Resource Allocation","Week 8: Hands-on Lab: Project Scheduling Software Application","Week 9: Lesson 9: Project Budgeting, Cost Control, and Financial Analysis","Week 10: Lesson 10: Risk Management and Mitigation Strategies in Automation Projects","Week 11: Hands-on Lab: Project Budgeting and Risk Assessment Simulation","Week 12: Lesson 12: Commissioning Planning, Testing, and Handover Procedures","Week 13: Lesson 13: Continuous Improvement and Post-Implementation Review","Week 14: Capstone Service Project: Lean Automation System Design and Project Plan"]