Manufacturing Engineering Masters Program
Program Mission
The Masters of Manufacturing Engineering Program at Bradley University provides students with professional robust design and continuous improvement principles. The program gives students the ability to improve integrated systems, optimize manufacturing processes, adopt state-of-the-art materials, and produce superior quality products at minimal cost. By working closely with both constituencies and students, the department combines theoretical learning with hands-on application to keep students—and the organizations they benefit—globally competitive in today’s economy.
Role of Manufacturing Engineers
Manufacturing Engineers (MfE) are the intermediaries between consumers and the production floor. As the key personnel who understand the relationship between the Voices of the Customer (VOC) and the Voices of the Products (VOP), their leadership and management skills are critical in determining optimal processes, minimal production costs, superior products and customer satisfaction. Further, MfEs enhance production by eliminating waste; establishing standardized operations; creating safe, green working environments; and providing training and development to the workforce.
The Manufacturing Engineering (MSMfE) masters program at Bradley University is designed to broaden the career paths of our students in manufacturing sectors. This sector is comprised of all organizations engaged in the mechanical, physical, or chemical transformation of materials, substances, or components into new products. A list of possible Manufacturing Engineering careers for master’s degree holders includes, but is not limited to, the following:
Manufacturing Engineers at the Caterpillar Technical Center develop new processes that can be used in the development of new products. By optimizing process maps, they ensure that the best procedures are developed and implemented.
Manufacturing Engineers at 3M support the production facility’s efforts to increase product quality and reliability through constant reassessment and refinement of the manufacturing process. In the R&D department, they also develop manufacturing methodologies and equipment for products and subassemblies.
Manufacturing Engineers at General Mills develop automated production lines integrated with on-line quality control and safety inspection to guarantee that the cereals, snacks, and other such consumables they produce are safe, nutritional, and profitable products.
Manufacturing Engineering Masters Program
Manufacturing Engineers at Pella Cooperation facilitate Product-Process-Production (PPP) development teams to design products while taking into account merchandise functions, production processes, and efficient assembly practices. These efforts result in organized one-piece-flow manufacturing systems that minimize floor space to meet delivery deadlines.
Manufacturing Engineers at Toyota Motors Manufacturing Kentucky Inc. build pokayoke (defect prevention) devices to ensure smooth operations in the assembly line. By using PLC and sensor-related knowledge, they create damage prevention devices that automatically halt the line when errors are detected. They also create ergonomic tools to ensure the safety and efficiency of operators.
Manufacturing Engineers at Ecolite Manufacturing West (Moreno Valley, CA) develop, evaluate, and improve manufacturing methods using their design skills and familiarity with materials, fabrication processes, tool and production equipment capabilities, assembly methods, and quality assurance. Their work also includes applying lean manufacturing principles to develop efficient assembly equipment and operations.
Educational Development for Future Success
MSMfE at Bradley not only provides a self-constructed program of study for each student based on his or her career interests, but also encourages graduate students to conduct research projects to expand their knowledge in a specific field. The independent research and project management skills gained through this type of training are key core competencies of engineers in any organization. MSMfE students will be encouraged to begin research projects early in their academic training in order to foster interactions between faculty and students and increase chances for industry or Federal agency funded projects.
Estimated Time for Program Completion
MSMfE at Bradley not only provides a self-constructed program of study for each student based on his or her career interests, but also encourages graduate students to conduct research projects to expand their knowledge in a specific field. The independent research and project management skills gained through this type of training are key core competencies of engineers in any organization. MSMfE students will be encouraged to begin research projects early in their academic training in order to foster interactions between faculty and students and increase chances for industry or Federal agency funded projects.
Financial Assistance
The Graduate School awards scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships on a competitive basis to graduate students. Awards range from partial tuition support to full tuition support that may include a stipend. Students seeking financial assistance should apply according to the deadlines set by the Graduate School at www.bradley.edu/grad.
Faculty
Faculty in the MSMfE program share core values to provide the best curriculum and classroom experience possible. Our faculty of varying academic experiences, and areas of expertise provide a wide range of research opportunities to meet specific student needs, allowing them to not only understand the theory but also grow through industrial or practical projects. The faculty education background can be found here:click here
Expert Research Support
Two full-time technicians with mechanical and computer networking expertise aid the Department of Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering & Technology. They support the MSMfE faculty and graduate students with a multitude of project needs, such as creating fixtures for prototype developments, assisting in networking, and preparing specimens for experiments.
- Ronald Jones M.S., Purdue University
- John Leber B.S., Carleton College & Florida Atlantic University
Samples of Teaching & Research Projects
3D Modeling, Routing, & Cost Engineering Project
Computer Based Design for Manufacturability Project
One-Piece-Flow Pull Assembly Cell Design
(Implementing Kanban and Poyayoke Principles)
Online Lean Manufacturing Monitoring System