In their 4th or final year, ABSM students complete a culminating systems analysis experience in a two-class sequence (ABSM 430W and ABSM 431W) during the fall and spring semesters. ABSM capstone projects can be sponsored by faculty, industry, or other organizations. The systems analysis methodology varies depending on the sponsor’s needs. Examples include life cycle assessment (LCA), techno-economic analysis (TEA), optimization, and energy systems evaluation.
This gives sponsors a great opportunity to have real problems addressed by ABSM students, who bring engineering technology, business, and operations management, applied sciences, and systems analysis knowledge to the issue, and gives the students a great opportunity to learn more about how real-world challenges are solved. Contact Paul Heinemann or Juliana Vasco-Correa with questions about sponsoring a project or to discuss project ideas.
Timeline for Projects
May-July prior to project beginning
Identify potential sponsors, meet with instructors (Paul Heinemann and Juliana Vasco-Correa)
Projects should require students to apply their systems analysis skills to the project. Project success depends on sponsor engagement and clear objectives. This will be discussed with the instructors.
August
Student teams are identified during the first week of classes. Student teams will meet with their sponsors by the end of August or beginning of September.
September-December
Students develop a systems analysis project proposal during the semester. The students and sponsors are expected to meet as needed during the development of the proposal but should be no less than three times during this period.
Site visits can be facilitated during this time (if viable). Sponsors provide information to the students to help them gain better insight into the problem being addressed, such as diagrams, data, etc. However, the primary goal of the Fall semester effort is for the students to determine the scope, goals, and objectives of the project so that the expectations can be established.
January-February
During the Spring semester, student teams will begin developing their systems analysis models. They will need more specific quantitative data from their sponsors early in the semester, and also will be doing literature searches to find other relevant information for their models.
March-April
Student teams will develop the actual models and run different scenarios to provide the sponsor with the insights into alternative strategies. The final deliverables are a project report, presentation, and the models if desired by the sponsor.
Project Budget
Typically, there is no cost associated with these projects. If the student teams visit sponsor sites, help with costs (such as providing food as needed) is always welcome.
Confidentiality
Sponsors may require students (and instructors) to sign non-disclosure agreements as needed. The instructors will work with the sponsors before the Fall semester starts to prepare the NDAs so they are ready for signature when the students begin the project.
