How Automation Is Changing the World, and the Workforce

attendees at engineering lecture

At transportation terminals, automation is boosting productivity and creating safer work environments. In the medical device industry, it’s advancing product development and letting employees learn new technologies. And in aerospace, it’s leading to new manufacturing processes and a future age of autonomous aircraft.

At Thursday’s Fall Engineering Distinguished Lecture, representatives from all three industries shared how automation is changing the world—and the workforce.

“This is one of those topics that is very pertinent—automation, robotics, artificial intelligence—all the things we live with today,” said moderator Rolando Saldana, vice president of engineering at Qualcomm. “Going forward, we’re also seeing that industry is moving forward with automation. And these (speakers) are the folks who are putting together the systems.” Continue reading “How Automation Is Changing the World, and the Workforce”

MAE Students Submit Proposal for Reuse of Shuttered C-17 Plant

Reuse of Shuttered C-17 PlantStudents often attend lectures or solve problems for extra credit, but Dr. Juan Cepeda-Rizo’s MAE 330 Thermodynamics class had an opportunity to do something with more impact—create a proposal for reuse of the shuttered Boeing C-17 production facility.

Cepeda-Rizo, who lives near the former aircraft plant, offered the opportunity at the beginning of the semester at the suggestion of neighbor Patricia Chen. With an interest in sustainable energy, students Mohamad Alkam, Hope Daley, Elyssa Lawrence, and Eric Velazquez immediately stepped forward. Facing a tight deadline of Sept. 12, the students came up with an idea for a solar park for the 160-acre site on Cherry Avenue near the Long Beach Airport. Continue reading “MAE Students Submit Proposal for Reuse of Shuttered C-17 Plant”

MAE CELEBRATES ITS CLASS OF 2016

The Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department celebrated its Class of 2016 at an awards ceremony and reception Monday.

“Congratulations, you made it,” Chair Jalal Torabzadeh told the nearly 100 students in attendance. “You have come a long way. This is a milestone. It’s a great opportunity to celebrate and be proud of your accomplishments.”

Dean Forouzan Golshani said what graduates must do next is figure out their passion. “Find what makes your life meaningful. I hope you find whatever it takes to fulfill your aspirations.”

Patrick Goggin, VP of 747/767/777 Engineering at Boeing and a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council, received the Outstanding Alumni Award for his contributions to the MAE Department. Continue reading “MAE CELEBRATES ITS CLASS OF 2016”

Mechanical Engineering Students Show Off Design Projects

me students design project snapFrom an operational hovercraft to a 3D-printed dog prosthetic to a grill that texts you when your food is cooked, the student projects shown off during the CSULB Mechanical Engineering Department’s 2015-16 Senior Design Project Exhibition demonstrated both creativity and technical understanding.

More than 100 students were enrolled in the Senior Design class, a two-semester capstone course that emphasizes the theory and practice of modern design and manufacturing. During the first semester, students focus on concept design and embodiment design, while the second semester is dedicated to project implementation. Continue reading “Mechanical Engineering Students Show Off Design Projects”

Looking for a Few Good Candidates

Stem Job Fair Good CandidatesFor engineering students trying to land their first career opportunity, the Sept. 17  STEM Job Fair was the place to be. The annual fair attracted hundreds of job-seeking students, as well as nearly 100 hiring companies ranging from large corporations to government agencies to up-and-coming startups and in between.

Students waited patiently in long lines to turn in resumes to recruiters at Boeing, which maintains a strong presence in the region, and Facebook, which was making its first appearance at a Cal State University Long Beach job fair. Continue reading “Looking for a Few Good Candidates”

Boeing Speaker Draws Standing-Room Only Audience

Boeing logoAs the world’s largest aerospace company, Boeing is almost always in hiring mode—especially when it comes to engineers. And not only does the company offer well-paid internships but also entry-level engineering positions with extensive mentoring and opportunities for further education.

“Engineers are the backbone of our business,” said Boeing Intern Coordinator A. J. Dale at Tuesday’s Speaker Series talk sponsored by the College of Engineering’s Office of Professional Development and Internships. “We want you to learn as much as you can.” Continue reading “Boeing Speaker Draws Standing-Room Only Audience”

COE Receives Boeing’s Supplier of the Year Award

Group photo - PHOTO COURTESY OF BOEING CO.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BOEING CO

The College of Engineering was recently presented with Boeing’s “Supplier of the Year” award for providing exceptional performance and contributions to Boeing’s overall success. The COE, along with 16 companies, received the award during a ceremony held at the San Diego Convention Center.

The selection of the COE was on the basis of a longstanding relationship that included a consistently superior pipeline of talent, many successful collaborative projects, and partnership on research and development efforts. “These partners have gone above and beyond the call to help Boeing provide the best, most affordable products and services possible,” said Jack House, leader of Boeing Supplier Management.

Supplier of the Year
Group photo – PHOTO COURTESY OF BOEING CO.

The COE was honored in the category of “Academia” for its outstanding performance as a strategic university. “This award is a wonderful validation of our efforts to support regional socioeconomic development and to partner with Southern California business and industry,” says Forouzan Golshani, dean of the College of Engineering. “Our long and multifaceted relationship with Boeing has included numerous research and development projects, educational initiatives, student scholarships and support, and the Boeing Endowed Chair in Manufacturing—not to mention the fact that more than a few of their engineers have come from our program.”

At the Boeing Supplier of the Year Award ceremony were (l-r) Jack House, Boeing enterprise leader, Supplier Management; John Tracy, Boeing senior vice president and chief technology officer; Paul Pasquier, Boeing Engineering, Operations and Technology vice president, Supplier Management; CSULB Dean for the College of Engineering Forouzan Golshani; CSULB Associate Dean for the College of Engineering Hamid Rahai; Stan Deal, Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice president, Supply Chain Management; Joan Robinson-Berry, Boeing Shared Services Group vice president, Supplier Management; and Kent Fisher, Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice president, Supplier Management.

MAE Students Present at Boeing

MAE Student Presentations at Boeing

Eight MAE students working on Boeing-sponsored projects at the Center for Advanced Technology Support for Aerospace Industry (CATSAI) during 2005 presented their work in a meeting attended by Boeing engineers and management and MAE Chair Hamid Hefazi on Monday, Dec. 15, 2005. The presentations addressed the projects they have worked on, their accomplishments, as well as what the experience has meant to them. The students received a certificate of appreciation from Mr. Tim Miller, Director of C-17 production.