WESTEC 2006 Conference and Exposition

The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) Chapter S053 (CSULB) designed and manufactured a Just In Time (JIT) Automated Tool & Parts Delivery Cart. Equipped with RFID for all tools and parts kits, a webcam, and a laptop connected to the network, The Cart delivers the necessary tools and parts for the day at each work center to prevent unnecessary motion waste of machinists and operators.

The project was presented at the Manufacturing Challenge, a collegiate level competition of a product or process capability improvement, held at the WESTEC 2006 Conference and Exposition held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, March 27-30, 2006.

The WESTEC Manufacturing Challenge was held on March 27, 2006. The Challenge is a college-level, juried manufacturing competition, where students create projects that are judged by industry professionals for design, innovation and manufacturability. Nine schools competed in the 4-year University level, from BYU to San Diego State to Cal State Chico. Every school had a completely different project, from custom made skate boards, to composite wheelchairs, to castings, to methanol engines. The main theme: design innovation and manufacturability. Every school put up a display booth with its project at the LA Convention Center during the WESTEC Manufacturing EXPO. Buzz Aldrin was the key note speaker and presenter of the awards.

Congratulations to the entire CSULB SME WESTEC team in placing third at the 2006 WESTEC Manufacturing Challenge Competition!!!

Special congratulations to: Kevin Rietfors, Mike Romance, Drew Abejon, Chris Roquemore, M. Stuart Fowler, Steve Howell, Corey Snavely, and James Pan, who dedicated the last 9 weeks to the team and the project. Awesome job, guys!!

Congratulations to Maite Gutierrez for winning the William B. Johnson Leadership in Manufacturing Award at the Manufacturing Challenge, for her work as the Team Leader for the CSULB SME WESTEC team. Maite's award was presented to her by former astronaut, Buzz Aldrin!