Denso-21 | Multidisciplinary Design Program

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DENSO, one of the largest global mobility/automotive suppliers of advanced technology, systems and components, leverages a product launch system to ensure successful, on time product launches. Students on this team will become intimately familiar with DENSO’s core processes in commercial management and product launch readiness, while developing a platform that will optimize our global network and provide a virtual reach towards manufacturing.

Abstract:
DENSO is one of the largest global automotive suppliers of advanced technology, systems and components. We’re a leading innovator of world–first technologies with career opportunities in more than 30 countries and regions worldwide. Our fast–paced, hands–on working environment provides real world challenges and the opportunity to work with people from diverse backgrounds. (See more about our culture and values in the company information section). Denso’s current product launch processis effective and well documented, but the data systems that supports it is outdated and inefficient. Students on this team will become intimately familiar with DENSO’s core processes in commercial management (supply chain, finance, supplier communication, etc.) and product launch readiness, while developing a new platform and data system to support the management of the current product launch process.

More Information

Programming – Front End/Back End (2 – 3 students)

Specific Skills: General Programming. Students must have completed EECS 281 or equivalent. Work will be done in JAVA, Spring, Angular, relational databases (MS SQL Server, Oracle)

Likely Majors: CS, Any

Database Design (1 – 2 students)

Specific Skills: Advanced Database Design

Likely Majors: CS, DATA, MIDAS

Business Process Mapping (2 students)

Specific Skills: Business process analysis and development. Efficiency and optimization. In addition students must have general data science or computer science skills; please be sure to identify these in your personal statement.

Likely Majors: IOE, DATA, BBA with CS minor, CS with BBA minor

UI/UX (1 student)

Specific Skills: Development of user flow and optimal user interface. Creation of wireframes and high–fidelity mockups that adhere to company standards. Ability to contribute to basic coding tasks.

Likely Majors: SI, ARTDES, CS

Sponsor Mentor

Kelly Hetzner

Kelly Hetzner is a Sales Manager in DENSO’s Sales & Marketing department in Southfield, MI with special residency at Toyota Motor North America Headquarters in Ann Arbor. In this role, Kelly promotes improved collaboration as part of a continuous partnership between the two companies. She joined DENSO in 2004, working in the Toyota Sales Group, where she was responsible for Product Launch and Delivery Control for the North American market. Throughout her career, she has served as an expat in DENSO Japan headquarters as well as N.A. commercial lead in thermal and powertrain.

Executive Mentors

Dennis Rieck

Dennis Rieck Jr. is a vice president of Sales & Marketing, responsible for Toyota Sales, at DENSO International America, Inc., in Southfield, Michigan. Dennis joined DENSO in 2000, working in the Toyota Sales Group, where he was responsible for Delivery Control for the North American market. Throughout his career, he has served in multiple regions and customer groups.

Kara Grasso

Kara Grasso is vice president of Strategic Operations at DENSO’s North American headquarters in Southfield, Michigan. In this role, she oversees Strategic Planning, Business Operations Planning, Sales Strategy, and Systems, Aftermarket, Delivery, and New Entrant Customers. Grasso previously led FCA Sales strategy and DENSO’s Product Sales strategy.

Faculty Mentor

Simeone Marino

Simeone has a joint appointment as Research Associate Scientist in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Michigan Medical School and a Research Computer Specialist position at the School of Nursing. His work is largely in Data Science and Big Data Analytics in the SOCR –Statistical Online Computational Resources group, led by Prof Ivo Dinov. Simeone’s research interests span from machine learning to developing methodologies and protocols for handling and sharing Big Data.

Course Substitutions: TBD

Internship/Summer Opportunity: TBD

Citizenship Requirements: This project is open to all students.

IP/NDA: Students will sign standard University of Michigan IP/NDA documents.