What is the IMSE Institute?

The Integrated Manufacturing Systems Engineering Institute (IMSEI) was established in 1984. IMSEI provides multidisciplinary graduate-level education and practical training opportunities in the theory and practice of integrated manufacturing systems engineering at the Masters level. IMSE focuses on providing a manufacturing presence and a program environment in the College of Engineering where faculty, graduate students and industry can engage cooperatively in multidisciplinary graduate education, basic and applied research, and technology transfer in areas of common interest related to modern manufacturing systems technology. The objective of the IMSE program is to offer students with traditional discipline backgrounds in engineering and the physical sciences an opportunity to broaden their understanding of the multidisciplinary area of manufacturing systems. Core areas of concentration are offered in manufacturing systems, logistics, and mechatronics.

The IMSE Institute’s specific mission is to:

• Provide multi-disciplinary graduate level education and practical training opportunities in the theory and practice of integrated manufacturing systems engineering at the master degree level.
• Bring university and industry expertise and interests together to conduct basic and applied research leading to the development of advanced modern manufacturing system technology.
• Advance the application of modern manufacturing technology through interactive technology transfer between university research and industrial applications.

The IMSE program is unique in that it makes uses of faculty, course offerings, and laboratory facilities within the traditional engineering, computer science, business, and textile departments to offer an independent masters degree, authorized to be awarded by the faculty who associate with and participate in the activities supported by the IMSE Institute. A further unique feature of the program is that some of the funds, which support the program, come from annual membership fees provided by a consortium of industrial sponsors and service contract agreements with selected North Carolina industry. The program is designed to accomplish the following objectives:

• To provide students with an appreciation of how different relevant classical disciplines make an impact on manufacturing systems engineering.
• To provide students with an opportunity to gain specific knowledge and develop special skills in areas of modern manufacturing technology.
• To provide students with an opportunity to apply this knowledge in a current research and/or applications problem in manufacturing systems.

For Additional Information:

Please email Nancy Evans, IMSEI Program Assistant, or call (919) 515-3808.