Get to work - Applied Learning

Capstone team members: Omar Rahmaan, Maria DeFilippo, Yordalis Corporan, Andrew Tobin

Kodak Alaris is an independent global technology company focused on exposing the power of images and information for businesses and consumers. This group of RIT seniors explored possibilities to break into the 3D printing market with Kodak Alaris. Although the group’s core competency was photo printing and imaging, they learned valuable skills first-hand for the workplace, such as schedule coordination, time management, and how to communicate with a global client across time zones.

“I plan on going into management for my undergrad so I can subsequently go into team management and consultancy for a career. I have learned that teamwork is vital. Some things you can’t do alone, but you can with the support of a good team.” - Andrew Tobin    

Capstone team members: Patrick Reynolds, Ray Zayas, Llesy Alcantara, Silvia Carbello, Susan Hansen

Arc of Monroe is a local organization that provides a variety of programs and services to those with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and their families. The Arc works to enhance the quality of life and self-esteem of people in their programs by providing meaningful social development, supported employment, residential community living, and enrichment opportunities.

This group of student consultants worked for Arc of Monroe on an abandoned project within the organization. Their main objective was to create a new business model to revive the program. They did this by breaking down and assessing each aspect of the Arc’s current business model and creating an updated business model template that allows the program to be conducted consistently and successfully.

Capstone team members: Sarah Baris, Nikhil Srivastava, Michael Simeone, Meagan Kidder, Evan Zachary

BioWorks Inc. is a bio-based company focused on biological manufacturing in New York. The company creates environmentally responsible solutions for controlling insects and plant diseases. The main objective of this group of student consultants was to identify competitors for BioWorks Inc. and to update the road map for a new market.

“I picked this project with the intention of developing the economic and financial aspect of sustainability. Programs often fail to market this aspect and I feel like this project has given me the opportunity to explore that.” - Evan Zachary

Capstone team members: Jeff Kosakowski, Ty Clauss, Dakota Clay, Stella Ravariere, Taurance Robnett

The Black Box group was tasked with a classified project for RIT’s College of Liberal Arts, with the main objective of improving efficiency. The College of Liberal Arts at RIT offers a unique, technology-infused approach to the traditional Liberal Arts education while emphasizing global education, student-centered research, and social justice.

The Black Box team faced challenges with information and data gathering due to limited resources. However, the group was able to overcome their obstacles and ultimately gain great insights into the consulting side of business.

“Currently, we are able to tackle this by using available resources like ProQuest as much as possible, as well as asking and consulting experts on and off campus.” - Dakota Clay

Capstone team members: Meghana Reddy Vennapusala and Chaitanya Kshirsagar

Haiti, like many other third world countries, lacks a reliable means of disposing human waste. This leads to contamination of water supplies and the spread of disease. In Haiti, only one in five families have any kind of toilet. Studies indicate that investments in sanitation can deliver a financial return of 700% by improving the health and environmental standards of the area.

An arborloo is a moveable pit latrine that composts human feces into organic fertilizer to provide nutrients for a fruit-bearing tree. It is relatively cheap and easy to install in the earth, allowing for a safe and dignified place to defecate. This should help halt the spread of pathogens present in human feces while providing nutrients for its tree. This device is portable and light enough to be transferred between multiple pits. 

A team of RIT students from the Kate Gleason College of Engineering, has designed a product that is modular, easily assemblable, and can be fabricated using local Haitian materials. Thus, the objective of this project is to develop an optimized supply chain and manufacturing operation suitable for the resources available in Haiti.

“As business students, we are working in something that is completely different from what we were expecting. This makes it different but also a good learning experience for us."
Chaitanya Kshirsagar
 

Capstone team members: Karla Roedan, Hugo Nuñez and Aman Jot Kaur

3D printing is a technology that has begun a revolution in the way we create objects. Manufacturing companies have taken advantage of 3D printing for rapid prototyping and product development. 

The objective of the project was to develop a market opportunity analysis to understand the future use of 3D printing. They also sought to  find out whether it would be profitable for companies that manufacture simple parts to switch from traditional manufacturing techniques to 3D printing.

The company that this group is working for is confidential, but we can tell you that it is an American technology company that concentrates on imaging products. The team worked to collect secondary research on 3D printing and, with help from Professor Les Moore, set forth a plan of action.

"It is a valuable experience. Coming from a design background, I did not have any experience with the business field, so this Capstone is giving me a chance to explore opportunities and learn new things before entering into the corporate world." -Aman Jot Kaur

Capstone team members: Jelisse Rodriguez, Diana Rodriguez and Joshua Schussler

Motorized pediatric standers, a product developed by RIT students from the Kate Gleason College of Engineering, provide upright mobility opportunities for young people with certain types of disabilities. This device allows the user to move and interact in a way that is more natural than a standard wheelchair, improving quality of life while also allowing the user’s legs to support weight.

The main objective of the Capstone project was to develop a plan for commercialization of this new product.To accomplish this, the team met with members of CP Rochester and researched information about the market, competitors, and the target to which they would focus all their strategies.

“I really like this because it is a real world application, in which we want to succeed. It’s something that can be applied immediately in our industry." - Joshua Schussler

This Capstone team was featured among a larger, campus-wide interdisciplinary team with students from engineering and design majors. Together, the full team presented their concepts at Imagine RIT 2016 in Dr. Destler's Access and Inclusion Technology Challenge. The challenge featured projects dedicated to the research and development of state-of-the-art technologies that improve access and promote inclusion for people with disabilities; specifically, this team made a device that made it easier for physically disabled people to travel and shop. 

This team's Motorized Pediatric Stander took first prize! Their proposal included a kit and accompanying app that was developed by the 13-member team of industrial design, business, and engineering students. The device allows children with cerebral palsy to explore their environments and learn to move in a standing position.

Capstone team members: Aleyca Y. De Leon Roman, Julissa M. Pozo Nunez, Asim Wankhade, Vineeth Ramajayam

Markin Tubing, a tube pipe manufacturing company in Rochester, NY, is one of the leading suppliers of small-diameter steel tubing worldwide. Markin’s success today is due to several decades of partnership and collaboration with their customers. 

This group of RIT seniors were faced with the problem of generating new revenue streams for Markin Tubing, which they projected could be done by using scrap metals as raw materials. The group worked as a team and through researching and consulting with field experts and determined the most viable business solution for the company.

“As masters of supply chain management students, we believe this project would be of great experience for us, especially going into the industry after graduation. We are constantly learning new skills and different ways to solve a problem.”  - Aleyca Y. De Leon Roman