Summer Research Lunch and Learn Series

The Opus College of Engineering is pleased to present a summer lunch and learn series for all current undergraduate and graduate student researchers in the college. Faculty and staff are also welcome to attend. Lunch is provided. 

For questions, please contact Jess Thayer

What is TeX? 

Presented by Dr. Philip Vogelwede, associate professor of mechanical engineering, Marquette University

Thursday, June 28, from noon to 1 p.m. in Engineering Hall, 236

LaTeX is a free software package created in 1985 by the American computer scientist Leslie Lamport as an addition to the TeX typesetting system. LaTeX is widely used in academia for the communication and publication of scientific documents in many fields, including mathematics, statistics, computer science, engineering, etc. LaTeX follows the design philosophy of separating presentation from content, so that authors can focus on the content of what they are writing without attending simultaneously to its visual appearance.

Come to hear how TeX can help you with all your writing needs!

LEAN

Presented by Brian Lightner, Lean & Quality Control Manager, Riley Construction

Thursday, July 19, from noon to 1 p.m. in Engineering Hall, 236  

Lean is a systematic method derived from the Toyota Production System for waste minimization within a system to improve productivity. For decades, the term “Lean” was applied strictly to manufacturing processes. In recent years, however, the construction industry has begun to adapt Lean principles for their own purposes. Through the interactive LEGO Manufacturing Game, Lean principles are introduced to force players to examine processes, reduce waste, and establish standards. This session is part one of a two-part series that explores Lean principles and their application in and out of the manufacturing world.

Brian has been the Lean QAQC Project Manager at Riley construction for over three years. With a proven track record of process improvement and leadership, Brian works to implement Lean thinking as a means to reliably deliver value to clients and reduce waste in operations. He works to support and coach the executive team at Riley to create a strategic vision and plan for Lean and provides facilitation and coaching for implementation, with a people-centered view of leadership aligned with the principles taught at Marquette.

LEAN II

Presented by Brian Lightner, Lean & Quality Control Manager, Riley Construction

Thursday, July 26, from noon to 1 p.m. in Engineering Hall, 236 

Lean is a systematic method derived from the Toyota Production System for waste minimization within a system to improve productivity. For decades, the term “Lean” was applied strictly to manufacturing processes. In recent years, however, the construction industry has begun to adapt Lean principles for their own purposes. Through the interactive LEGO Manufacturing Game, Lean principles are introduced to force players to examine processes, reduce waste, and establish standards. This session is part two of a two-part series that explores Lean principles and their application in and out of the manufacturing world.

Brian has been the Lean QAQC Project Manager at Riley construction for over three years. With a proven track record of process improvement and leadership, Brian works to implement Lean thinking as a means to reliably deliver value to clients and reduce waste in operations. He works to support and coach the executive team at Riley to create a strategic vision and plan for Lean and provides facilitation and coaching for implementation, with a people-centered view of leadership aligned with the principles taught at Marquette.

Statistical DOE

Presented by Max Sawa, Milwaukee Tool

Thursday, August 9, from noon to 1 p.m. in Engineering Hall, 236 

Design of Experiments (DOE) is a proven and effective method of experimentation which shows the most important factors to design performance, and how they interact with one another. DOE has many advantages over traditional "trial and error" experimentation because of its statistical approach to setting up and analyzing an experiment. By fully understanding the influential factors of a design and the noise of the system, engineers can create a robust design with agility and confidence. It allows researchers to obtain more knowledge with fewer experiments, and ultimately allows us to be better engineers. This session will introduce DOE and methods of applying it to any problem.

Max entered the Advanced Engineering group with Milwaukee Tool in 2015, focusing on the research and development of new Power Tool Accessory products.  Max has been involved with designing new products as well as redesigning and optimizing current products on the market. He has worked on many of the product lines offered in Accessories, and is currently leading multiple research initiatives.  Max credits most of his engineering work to an experiential and hands on attitude towards solving engineering problems.

Productivity, Teamwork, and Communication with the DiSC Inventory

Presented by Andrea Gorman, Assistant Director for Engineering Leadership Programs  

Thursday, August 16, from noon to 1 p.m. in Engineering Hall, 236

Are you direct and active, interested and lively, steady and cooperative, or concerned and correct? The I-Sight DiSC Profile is a tool for discussion of people’s behavioral and communicative styles. Because engineering is such a collaborative discipline, it is necessary to be able to communicate beyond technical information. As engineers we’ve spent years honing our technical abilities, but we often neglect the soft-skills necessary to progress as a team.

The I-Sight DiSC Profile provides language so that we can better understand ourselves and adapt our behaviors with others to improve communication in teams, in leadership positions, and in other relationships. Come join us at this session to increase your self-awareness: how you respond to conflict, what motivates you, what causes you stress, and how you solve problems!