Auburn University · Industrial & Systems Engineering

Tiger Motors Lean Education Center

Experience Lean Manufacturing.Explore the System.Improve the Process.

An immersive digital learning environment developed at Auburn University to extend experiential Lean Manufacturing education beyond the physical laboratory.

Illustrative digital model of a production loop

360° ImmersiveLab Tour

The facility

A Manufacturing System Built for Learning

Auburn University's Industrial and Systems Engineering department has developed a 4,000-square-foot Integrated Manufacturing Facility that simulates real-world automotive production environments. It gives students experiential learning opportunities in high-volume manufacturing settings like those used by Toyota and Honda.

This is where the Lean Systems class is taught. The digital platform extends access to that experiential environment beyond the physical laboratory, so the system can be studied, explored and revisited from anywhere.

4,000 sq ftIntegrated Manufacturing Facility
AutomotiveSimulates real-world, high-volume production environments
Hands-onLean Systems class taught inside the laboratory
NSF IUSESupported by the NSF IUSE: EDU Program

Facility layout · schematic, not to scale

Material flows from Cell 1 to Cell 2 to Cell 3

AS/RS Raw Stock Cell 3 3 Cell 1 1 Cell 2 2 CNC 1 CNC 2 CNC 3 CNC 4 CNC 5 3D Manufacturing Cell 5 desktop CNC · 1 3D printer PLC / Computer Lab Tool Area Storage TIGER MOTORS · INTEGRATED MANUFACTURING FACILITY
Schematic redrawn from the facility floor planAS/RS feeds raw stock · Cell 1 → Cell 2 → Cell 3
LEARN

Learn Lean Manufacturing concepts

Lectures and supplemental material organized around the Lean House, from People to Continuous Improvement.

EXPLORE

Explore a realistic manufacturing system

360° experiences of the Tiger Motors laboratory and 360° videos of students running the production system.

CONNECT

Connect concepts with hands-on activities

Laboratory activities that apply each Lean concept inside the same manufacturing environment.

Immersive lab experience

Enter the Tiger Motors Lab

Explore the manufacturing system from anywhere. The platform connects interactive 360° experiences to the physical laboratory, so you can walk the facility, watch the production system run and complete lab activities inside the same environment.

360° · 3DVista

Lean Tour of the Tiger Motors Lab

Step inside the Integrated Manufacturing Facility and move through the production system in an interactive 360° environment.

Launch the Lab Tour

YouTube360° production runs with students

YouTube 360° videos. Drag or move your phone to look around.

Visit our YouTube channel More 360° runs and lab videos on the Tiger Motors channel.

Interactive system

The Lean House

Follow the system from people to continuous improvement. Select an element of the house, in sequence, to open its learning materials.

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION 03 JIDOKA PILLAR 05 CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT KAIZEN 04 JUST IN TIME PILLAR 02 STANDARDIZATION 01 PEOPLE
Learning sequence 01–05Performance and goal

Learning modules

Every resource, in sequence

Lectures, supplemental material, 360° experiences and laboratory activities for each element of the Lean House. Step numbers follow the order used in the course materials.

Project background

Advancing manufacturing education through hands-on Lean

This project, supported by the NSF IUSE: EDU Program, aims to enhance STEM education and serve national interests by advancing manufacturing education through hands-on, evidence-based teaching in a Lean Manufacturing-focused laboratory course.

Project leads: Tom Devall · Jorge Valenzuela · Chih-hsuan Wang

Improving Undergraduate STEM Education

Supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation IUSE: EDU Program.

Jorge Valenzuela, Tom Devall and Chih-hsuan Wang holding model cars in the Tiger Motors lab
NSF grant · Tiger Motors labJorge Valenzuela, Tom Devall and Chih-hsuan Wang
The need

Skilled professionals to support industrial competitiveness in a resurging U.S. manufacturing sector, amid increasing reshoring efforts.

The setting

A 4,000-square-foot Integrated Manufacturing Facility that simulates real-world automotive production environments.

The approach

Hands-on, evidence-based teaching that leverages reflective, practical experience, recognized as a highly effective educational approach.

The emphasis

Improving student mindset and persistence while preparing students for manufacturing careers.

The reach

An online platform that expands access to experiential training beyond campus.

News

In the news

NSF grant $400K Lean Manufacturing education
Auburn Engineering NewsSeptember 2024

Professors receive $400K NSF grant for Lean Manufacturing education

Tom Devall, Tiger Motors Lab director, Jorge Valenzuela, Philpott-WestPoint Stevens Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering, and Chih-hsuan Wang, professor in the Department of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Technology, will lead this project.

Read the article

About the team

The Lean Team

A team of educators at Auburn University teaching the Lean Systems class in a laboratory that simulates high-volume automotive manufacturing environments.

Project leads & team

Tom Devall

Tom Devall

Tiger Motors Lab Director · Program Director

Industrial & Systems Engineering

Auburn profile
Jorge Valenzuela

Jorge Valenzuela

Philpott-WestPoint Stevens Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering

Industrial & Systems Engineering

Auburn profile
Chih-hsuan Wang

Chih-hsuan Wang

Professor, Department of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Technology

Educational Foundations, Leadership & Technology

Auburn profile
Diego Caputo

Diego Caputo

Lean Systems Expert
Digital Environment Architect & Developer

Lean Team · Digital Learning Environment

LinkedIn
Gonzalo Gil

Gonzalo Gil

Lean Systems Expert
Digital Environment Architect & Developer

Lean Team · Digital Learning Environment

LinkedIn

About us

Students gain hands-on experience in a 4,000-square-foot integrated manufacturing facility that simulates high-volume automotive manufacturing environments like those used by Toyota and Honda.

The goal of this online platform is to expand access to experiential training beyond campus.

Contact

Get in touch with the Lean Team

Lean Team

Lean Manufacturing Team

Address
345 W Magnolia Ave, Auburn University, AL 36849, United States
Lab Director

Dr. Tom Devall

Office
3301E Shelby Center
Phone
Opening 360° experience