Student Manufacturing Design Competition

The purpose of the competition is to foster interest in manufacturing, provide the manufacturing engineering community with fresh new perspectives on design, and create a forum for students to share their new and innovative ideas. Held during the ASME 2019 International Manufacturing Science and Engineering Conference (MSEC), June 10-14, 2019 at Penn State Behrend, the 2019 SMDC is sponsored by ASME Manufacturing Engineering Division (MED), and co-organized by ASME MED and the SME North American Manufacturing Research Institution (NAMRI).

Introduction
Original student designs that focus on manufacturing engineering and science are sought. Any design of a system, component, or process that can be used to promote the art, science and practice of manufacturing engineering is acceptable. Examples include but are not limited to:

• Digitally integrated manufacturing
• Robotics and automation
• Additive and subtractive operations
• Manufacturing systems innovations
• Materials - process interaction
• Software solutions across platform
• Any creative new way to make things!

Requirements
The project report is limited to 3,000 words with supporting figures and/or photographs. Items that must be included in the project description are:
     • Project Title
     • Names and addresses of the participating students, with one designated as corresponding
     • The name and signature of a faculty sponsor with complete contact information

A successful entry might also include a description of the problem(s) being addressed and key requirements, a functional description of the concept/idea/model/system, comprehensive design analyses, and experiments or tools used, discussion of how the concept improves upon existing designs, and a statement listing the percent contribution of the group members and any outside assistance (e.g., faculty, shop personnel). Due to the deadline for the application and the fact that such student design projects are often part of a senior design capstone project, it is understood that a working prototype will not necessarily have been completed by the time of the submission. Such projects will be judged based on the design and analysis of the concept.

Process
Entries from either teams or individual contestants must be submitted in electronic form to moneer.helu@nist.gov and received by March 4, 2019. Eight finalist teams will be selected from the entrants and will be expected to give an oral presentation at the 2019 MSEC conference. The use of visual aids and demonstration of actual working models are highly encouraged. 

Judging
Eight finalists will be selected on the basis of the project descriptions by a panel of judges representing industry, academia, and/or government organizations related to manufacturing. The first round of judging will be a panel review of the submitted project descriptions and will focus on the quality of the project description, creativity of the design, and integrity of the analysis and test approach for evaluating the solution in light of requirements. The eight finalists will be notified by March 22, 2019 and are expected to make a fifteen-minute presentation followed by five-minute question session at the 2019 MSEC conference. Judging for the final round will be based on the quality of the presentation as well as on creativity of the design and integrity of the analysis and test approach for evaluating the solution based on stated requirements. Judging criteria include but are not limited to:

• Communicating the problem to be solved
• Effectively meeting requirements
• Integrity of the analysis
• Creativity of design
• Goal-driven testing approach
• Impact of design on manufacturing cost, quality, or other manufacturing and performance measures
• Quality of the presentation (on time, clear, professional)

Awards
Cash prizes and awards of recognition will be presented at the ASME Award Ceremony during the conference. First Prize is $1,000, Second Prize is $750, and Third Prize is $500.

Eligibility
Any graduate or undergraduate student who is registered in school full time through Spring of 2019 or beyond can participate. Both individual and group projects are welcome, and individuals may participate in several entries provided each entry is on a clearly different subject.

Travel Expenses and Support
Travel expenses to the conference will be the responsibility of the students and/or faculty sponsor. Conference student participants may apply for competitive travel awards from the NSF supporting grant (exact amount to be determined); please note the additional obligations of this award, such as participating through the entire conference and attending the Early Career Forum. Detailed information on the available student support will be posted at the conference website and also sent to the selected student teams. Each team is also eligible for a $500 supplement from ASME Manufacturing Engineering Division.

Information
Still have questions? Contact the organizer, Dr. Moneer Helu of NIST at moneer.helu@nist.gov with the subject line “SMDC”.