GENEDGE is providing University Engineering Senior Design Capstone Program resources to solve complex manufacturing challenges.
Monarch Engineering & Innovation Lab (M-Lab)
GENEDGE supports the Monarch Engineering and Innovation Lab (M-Lab). to push the boundaries of innovation, solve the problems of the day, create jobs of the future, and have a direct and positive impact on the industries their students and faculty serve.
The program is designed to be the capstone, integrative experience that provides the basic skills needed to effectively plan, manage and implement technical projects. Specifically, students work in teams to apply learned skills to real-world manufacturing opportunities, improving processes and accelerating growth
About the Monarch Engineering & Innovation Lab (M-Lab)
Creativity, invention, and innovation are values championed as central pillars of engineering education. However, university environments that foster open-ended design-build projects are uncommon. Fabrication and prototyping spaces at universities have typically been “machine shops,” where students relinquish actual manufacturing activities to trained professionals or are only accessible for academic assignments to highly trained students. The desire to make design and prototyping more integral to the engineering experience led to the idea to create a free-to-use M-Lab within the Batten College of Engineering and Technology at Old Dominion University.
The roughly 6,000 sq. ft. M-Lab is located on the second floor of Monarch Hall (former education building). This modern collaboration and prototyping space facilitates technological innovation among ODU students and faculty. The key functions of an academic maker space are to encourage students to invent, design, prototype, build and test; support design focused coursework and encourage entrepreneurship.
Engineering and Innovation labs are not new. Many educational institutions have established student innovation hubs, like M-Lab’s to complement traditional learning classroom environments while providing a venue for creative design and collaboration.
Student Director of Operations 3D Printing Co-Manager, Kylie Donald Director of Communications, Sydney Fletcher M-Lab Support Technician Metal Team Lead, Mical Nixon Director of Communications 3D Printing Co-Manager & M-Lab Director, Associate Professor, Dr. Orlando Ayala
Many manufacturing companies are busy running their day to day operation and struggle to find the time, technical resources, and tools to address operational inefficiencies, solutions to unmet challenges, and facility design opportunities. GENEDGE offers practical, hands-on student team resources and solutions through the Monarch Engineering and Innovation Lab (M-Lab)
Participating manufacturers identify and provide projects that require the investment of 8-10 team hours per week, for the duration of the 9 month project.
Senior Design Program services include but are not limited to:
- A CoreValue Enterprise Value Assessment,
- Project charter
- Professional project management and coaching.
Services result in a substantial business impact in one or more areas.
Check out M’Lab’s design and invention areas for students on the Old Dominion University website.
Benefit to manufacturers
- Technical Solutions
- Low cost, high impactful engagement
- Measurable results
- Talent acquisition pipeline
- Outreach opportunity for new talent pool
Interested in More Information?
Contact: James Smith
Assistant Director, University and Institutional Engagement
Phone: (540) 315-5081
Email: jsmith@genedge.org