Engineering innovation is an end-to-end process combining creativity (critical thinking, collaboration and communication), invention, design, and implementation. Success is measured by the value added, including quality and productivity value, of its innovative products, processes, and services in the commercial world.
MANE’s Innovation Spine is a sequence of three courses that immerse students in the tools and techniques of engineering innovation so that they can become leaders of technological innovation.
The three Inventor’s Studio courses provide a forum for students to enhance and utilize their critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills to innovate.
MANE-2220 Inventor’s Studio I: Ideating Innovation (3 cr) + PD 1
MANE-4220 Inventor’s Studio II: Rapid Prototyping Innovation (3 cr)
MANE-4330 Inventor’s Studio III: Pilot Manufacturing Innovation (3 cr)
Please note the following policies regarding each of these courses.
MANE-2220 Inventor’s Studio I: Ideating Innovation + PD 1
A first course in enhancing critical skills for leaders of technological innovation. The course emphasizes creativity (critical thinking), teamwork (collaboration), communication (written and oral communication) and work across engineering disciplines. Students would learn how to build on personal and innate talents through critical thinking skills, design-oriented mindsets, and an understanding of appropriate tool and process selection. Students will utilize tools and processes for ideation and innovation, develop ideas from concepts to minimum viable products via the ideate-build-learn cycle, and understand prototyping methods. Students learn select tools from all phases of Lean Design for Six Sigma process. The course meets with ENGR 1010. Students cannot get credit for both ENGR-2050 & Inventors Studio 1.
Terms Offered: Fall and Spring annually.
Prerequisites: ENGR 1100 and either ENGR 1200 or ENGR 1400. Co requisite: PHYS 1200 or permission of the instructorCredits: 4
Credits: 4
Place in the Mechanical, Aerospace, Nuclear, Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering Curricula:
This course could be taken in lieu of IED i.e. ENGR 2050.
MANE-4220 Inventor’s Studio II: Rapid Prototyping Innovation
Students work in teams to continue innovation, design and development work on approved projects that started in other courses such as Introduction to Engineering Design or Inventors Studio 1 or equivalent. New projects can also be proposed by students. Emphasis will be on innovating, completing the design, building an improved prototype, applying for patent protection, and licensing the design. Open to undergraduate and graduate students. Oral and written concept, mid-term and final presentations are required. This is a communication-intensive course. Students learn advanced tools of all phases of Lean Design for Six Sigma process.
Terms Offered: Fall and Spring annually.
Prerequisites: MANE 2220 Inventor’s Studio 1 students would be given preference over other students. ENGR-2050 Introduction to Engineering Design, or permission of the instructor
Credits: 3
Place in the Mechanical, Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering Curricula:
This course can either count as the Capstone Design course, or as a MANE-4000 Mechanical Engineering Technical Elective if the student completes a different capstone design course (e.g., MANE-4260 Multidisciplinary Capstone Design)
MANE-4330 Inventor’s Studio III: Scaling up Innovation
An advanced course in technology innovation, tools and processes. Students will learn and practice Lean methodologies, expanding upon ideate - build - validate - learn cycle, and will utilize systems thinking to design a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) of an innovation. Additionally, they will leverage technical knowledge and skills to prototype and run a pilot manufacturing of a System or Sub System of an Innovation. Weekly seminars will be given by Innovators, Intrapreneurs & Entrepreneurs. Students learn additional advanced tools of all phases of Lean Design for Six Sigma process.
Terms Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer annually.
Prerequisites: MANE 2220 - Inventor’s Studio 1, or MANE 4220, Inventor’s Studio II or ENGR-2050 Introduction to Engineering Design, MANE-4260 Multidisciplinary Capstone Design, or permission of the instructor
Credits: 3
Place in the Mechanical, Aerospace, Nuclear, Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering Curricula:
This course is a MANE-4000 Mechanical Engineering Technical Elective.