Featured Projects

Kent-based electronics manufacturer - Improving Material Availability While Reducing Inventory

Because of the long lead times for critical customized materials, Manufacturer has been incurring expensive expediting costs to avoid out-of-stock situations and lost sales. The EMDiS project aims to increase the availability of critical materials while keeping the inventory under control. To address the problem, Dr. Chen first studied current inventory replenishment practices and established several key performance measures, including forecast accuracy and service levels, an intangible benefit that was not previously available at the individual product level. He then developed several inventory models to analyze the benefits of postponement by having the customization done in-house instead of through oversea suppliers. The postponement strategy is expected to save Manufacturer 33% in safety stocks while improving its service levels with better availability and shorter lead times.

Faculty contributor: Dr. Jay Chen

Northeast Ohio - based, national food packer and manufacturer - Automation Equipment upskilling/training

A private national brand food manufacturer and packer connected with Cleveland State University and the EMDiS Center to assist in training their maintenance and operator team on automation equipment of processing equipment. Utilizing the new Rockwell Automation Connected Enterprises Lab, our team is currently structuring a personalized industry-level training on state-of-the-art automation controls and HMI. Meant to upskill their current workforce as a solution to worker shortages, Manufacturer plans to test program at headquarters and roll out to factories across the nation, pending successful results.

Contributors: Dr. Zhiqiang Gao, Mike Adams - Chair, Engineering Technology Department