Industrial Engineering (1st)

I1.01 Net-Zero Microgrid for EV Charging in Texas Through 2040

Sponsor: EPRI / Ingram School of Engineering

Student Team: Arslan Abbasi, Joy Saha, Valentina Mora 

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Michelle Londa 

The project envisions electric vehicles (EVs) comprising 55 percent of Texas' vehicle fleet by 2040. It underscores that EVs are genuinely zero-emission only when charged with renewables like wind, solar, or hydropower, underscoring the significance of clean energy in reducing environmental impact. Notably, if Texas' 2040 EV fleet relies on the current power grid, it could result in annual carbon emissions totaling 25.7 million tons, highlighting the environmental advantages of transitioning to cleaner energy sources for EV charging. Overall, the project explores EV growth, energy demands, and environmental consequences, emphasizing the imperative shift to renewable energy to support EV expansion and mitigate environmental impacts.

I1.02 Smart Factory

Sponsor: James Crean, Crean Inc.

Student Team: Victor Lopez, Tj Butler, Erin Hausmann, Lauren Feliciano 

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Michelle Londa

Smart Rack and Smart Bench sensors have been redesigned and a new housing for them is required to be designed and produced to fit the new circuit board design. Additionally, the housing manufacturing process must be selected, an optimal integration process (installation of the sensor into the housing and housing closeout) must be considered in the housing design and the integration process planned and optimization ideas should be brainstormed and documented.

I1.03 Neurodiverse A.I.d

Sponsor: Ingram School of Engineering / IBM

Student Team: Lauren Christenson, Cinthia Hinojosa, Carlos Quinto

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Michelle Londa

Different brains think more than one way, however thinking different is not always supported by newer technologies. Therefore, there is opportunity to identify strategies that will help neurodivergent individuals ace their interactions with AI technologies. Our teams main goal is to help neurodivergent people through the use of generative A.I. technologies.

I1.04 Modeling the Total Cost of Employee Departures

Sponsor: Dr. Leonidas Guadalupe, Children's Health Dallas

Student Team: Diego Zertuche, Luis Ramirez

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Michelle Londa

The healthcare field has had drastic changes in employment due to COVID-19, especially with nurses. Children's Health Hospitals, like many others, has been struggling with determining the total financial impact of having staff vacate. 

Through research and investigation, we'll develop an original model to evaluate the cost of employee turnover. The model will be evaluated and simulated to inform on different scenarios that might occur, while getting the average cost of departures in CH Dallas hospital.

I1.05 INKredible Impressions

Sponsor: Havier Montenegro, Community Impact

Student Team: Sarah Holson, Junia Gabasa, Brain Haupt 

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Michelle Londa

We plan to enhance the printing process and minimize waste through the application of Lean and Six Sigma techniques. We will utilize a value stream map to identify operational bottlenecks and gain a more comprehensive insight into the process. Additionally, we will conduct a Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) to identify issues and improve the system.