Montana State University announced on Apr. 1 a new graduate-level course, Manufacturing Management Systems, designed to give engineering students an in-depth understanding of modern manufacturing management and operational improvement strategies used in industry.
The course aims to prepare future engineers with practical skills that are highly sought after by employers. It was developed through collaboration between the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center and the Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering. The first group of students includes undergraduates majoring in mechanical engineering and mechanical engineering technology who are expected to graduate in May.
Course instructor Alistair Stewart said the curriculum provides practical tools that can be applied immediately as graduates begin their careers. “We’ve had many early- to mid-career graduates of the college of engineering come through this program as employees of manufacturers that we work with directly,” Stewart said. “And it is very common that when they go through these programs as employees, they will say to me, ‘Boy, I wished I’d learned this as an undergrad or in graduate studies.’ I’ve been doing this work here at MMEC for 11 years and I heard it on day one and I continue to hear it.”
The curriculum focuses on Lean Manufacturing, Theory of Constraints, and Six Sigma—approaches aimed at increasing efficiency by reducing waste, identifying bottlenecks, and minimizing variability. Stewart said these methods help deliver value to customers while supporting continuous process improvement: “The goal is to set up engineers with not just education, but tools and practical hands-on experience so that when they enter the workforce, or as early career professionals, they progress more quickly… They’re not just thinking about engineering, they’re thinking about business systems. The goal of the firm is to make money.” He also noted a common disconnect between engineering and economics: “They should be,” Stewart said. “But they sometimes – or even often, perhaps – are not.”
Students also gain preparation for industry-recognized credentials such as the Society of Manufacturing Engineers Lean Bronze Certification exam. Kendahl Hinthorne, a senior student from Billings set to begin her career after graduation in May, described an exercise using Legos during class: “On the first day of class we did an exercise using Legos to simulate a production line… The first round we didn’t complete a single assembly in the given time limit, whereas in the second round we were able to complete 30 with time to spare… Exercises like this show how simple changes to a process can have an extreme impact.”
Kevin Amende, associate professor who holds the inaugural Norm Asbjornson Chair of Manufacturing at MSU’s Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering said: “There are a lot of employers out there who actually look for other credentials from prospective employees… This will give students a significant competitive edge in the job market.”
Montana State University leads research funding efforts within Montana with annual expenditures exceeding $288 million according to its official website. The university ranks among the top five percent globally per rankings by the Center for World University Rankings according to its official website. MSU enrolls around 17,165 students evenly split between residents and nonresidents according to its official website, operates as Montana’s land-grant institution focusing on research and outreach according to its official website, contributes broadly through volunteer efforts according to its official website, offers extensive academic programs amid outdoor recreation opportunities according to its official website, and extends influence throughout Montana and beyond according to its official website.
Looking ahead, university officials say equipping graduates with both technical knowledge and business system expertise may enhance their competitiveness while helping address challenges faced by modern manufacturers.