Senior design projects with real-world impact

Each semester, seniors in UW–Madison’s ISyE 450: Senior Design Project course collaborate with companies and nonprofit organizations to solve real-world challenges using industrial and systems engineering tools. Student teams gain hands-on experience analyzing operations, mapping workflows with tools like swimlane diagrams, identifying root causes of inefficiencies, evaluating solutions using methods such as Pugh Matrices, and building computational models to predict performance improvements.

Equally important is the development of communication skills. Students learn to translate their findings into clear, actionable recommendations, balancing technical depth with strategic insights tailored to their client’s needs.

And one of the most rewarding aspects of the course? Clients often benefit just as much as the students.

This was certainly the case in a recent collaboration between Promega Corporation and one of UW-ISyE’s 2023 student teams. The project focused on automating Promega’s Quality Survey process, and the results have had a measurable impact.

Earlier this year, Promega representatives reached out to course director Dr. Terry Mann to share their appreciation and provide an update on the long-term value of the project.

“The 2023 UW student team made a meaningful impact,” said Mani Mueller, Manager of QA, Quality Systems, and Abigail Davis, Director of Quality Assurance at Promega. “They brought a fresh perspective and a clear, organized approach that helped us rethink a key process. We’re always looking for new ways to improve, and the insights they shared have now become part of our daily work.”

The project, led by 2023 seniors Tomas Herrera, Luke Larson, Claire Nack and Max Stamer, is a strong example of how academic-industry partnerships can generate real, implementable solutions. It also underscores the educational value of experiential learning—preparing students not only with technical knowledge but with the skills needed to collaborate, communicate, and deliver results in complex, professional environments.

The UW-Madison Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering is proud to support this model of engaged learning and looks forward to continuing to build impactful relationships with industry partners like Promega.