Evaluation and Implementation of Lean Engineering Principles for Improving a University Rocket Team

Alan Garcia Monroy, University of Texas at El Paso

Abstract

In the present day, lean is a tool applied to manufacturing industries trying to reduce waste and non-value-added work to every process during the supply chain. While implementing lean thinking in the industry has been highly effective, it is less common for academic purposes. However, it can also improve performance if the concept is correctly applied. The purpose of this thesis is to show and analyze the application of Lean Engineering thinking and its six principles to the Sun City Summit Rocket Team from the University of Texas at El Paso which competed in the Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) Spaceport America Cup 2022, the world largest rocketry competition that gathers students across the world to design, build and launch a rocket. The project Initium was the first rocket designed and built by Sun City Summit rocket team, integrated with mechanical, aerospace, and electrical students, targeting an apogee of 10,000 ft, using a propulsion system powered by a Commercial-Off-The-Shelf Aerotech M2500T solid propellant motor.

Subject Area

Mechanical engineering|Industrial engineering

Recommended Citation

Garcia Monroy, Alan, "Evaluation and Implementation of Lean Engineering Principles for Improving a University Rocket Team" (2022). ETD Collection for University of Texas, El Paso. AAI30240871.
https://scholarworks.utep.edu/dissertations/AAI30240871

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