Summer in Suzhou

— NC State mechanical engineering students collaborate on a redesign project for Caterpillar in China

David Simpson, a junior mechanical engineering major at North Carolina State University, was thrilled as he stood with his classmates in the Caterpillar plant in Suzhou, China. Although he and his classmates were eager to take pictures, sightsee and capture the moment, they were there to work with their Chinese student colleagues and the world’s largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment.

“I was concerned going in that I wasn’t prepared for such an ambitious project, but I was very happy with our finished redesign concept proposal and I feel much more confident about my education in engineering,” Simpson said.

Caterpillar Suzhou asked this international group of mechanical engineering students to develop redesign concepts for its popular 950H Medium Wheel Loader. The Fortune 100 Company hoped to reduce the cost of the product, increase market share and contribute to profitability growth. The students would later learn that the company took their work seriously: it plans to use their redesign results.

The collaboration marked the first time in the College of Engineering’s history that NC State students collaborated on a mechanical engineering design project with Chinese students from Zhejiang University during a summer study abroad program.  All students received credit towards their degrees while completing a course in mechanical design engineering.

Ranked among the top Chinese universities, Zhejiang’s College of Engineering is comparable to NC State in that it has a similar structure and curriculum. The agreement NC State signed in 2006 with Zhejiang now includes summer study abroad programs, a summer research program and a 3+1 accelerated engineering master’s program.

At NC State, Chinese students are the second largest international student population and the number has significantly increased over the past five years. In addition to a partnership with Zhejiang University, NC State has also signed agreements with Nanjing Normal University and Tshingua University in Beijing. These partnerships include student exchanges, summer research programs, faculty research collaboration and educational training.

Dr. Carl Zorowski, Reynolds Professor Emeritus in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, proposed the program plan to combine the students from both universities. The objective was to have students experience and overcome cultural and educational differences through design teams working on a real world engineering problem with an American company in China.

The journey to Hangzhou required cooperation, patience and organization. Zorowski collaborated with Dr. Gu Daqiang of the Mechanical Engineering Department at Zhejiang and Paul Watts, manager of Caterpillar Suzhou, to lay the groundwork for the integrated summer study abroad program design course.

After being involved with the Summer Study Abroad Program to China since 2007, Zorowski saw his goal attained in May 2010 when he traveled to Zhejiang with a group of NC State mechanical engineering students. There he met with Chinese engineering students from Zhejiang selected by Gu and the design teams were formed.

The design project generated great enthusiasm and success. Caterpillar Suzhou has adopted one of the redesign concepts created by the students. As a result, the company is implementing the concept as a cost-reducing product improvement.

They were really pleased with what the students had done. In fact, Paul Watts said, ‘I’m amazed,’” said Zorowski.

In addition to utilizing their engineering skills to assist Caterpillar Suzhou, the students also experienced the importance of international collaboration and working relationships.

“Engineering is a global profession,” said Tan Tran, a senior mechanical engineering major at NC State. “It occurs at every location in every language.”

Most importantly, the program presented an opportunity to strengthen ties with Zhejiang and promote the College of Engineering at NC State. Plans are under way to continue the program with Zhejiang and Caterpillar Suzhou during summer 2011.

“I think the program will interest more Chinese students in coming here for additional education,” Zorowski said. “I had three students who met with me personally to talk about graduate studies in the United States.  As our own students learn more about these study abroad program activities they, too, will want to personally experience and learn about China.”