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/modifying API (application programming interface) with Toyota Motor Corporation to create efficiencies between the two companies. All student team members will become DENSO 2022 Summer Interns based in Michigan/Tennessee.
Abstract:
DENSO’s current processes are effective and well documented, but utilizing API with their customers can greatly improve and enhance the value of work. 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/modifying API (application programming interface) with Toyota Motor Corporation to create efficiencies between the two companies.
Impact:
DENSO’s four (4) core technologies (Electrification, Automated Driving, Connected Driving, FA/AgTech) are helping build a sustainable society of the future. Through this project, students will help minimize the non-value manual work associated with the complexity of the supply chain. The result will optimize our global network and provide a virtual reach towards manufacturing.
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Programming – Front End/Back End (2-4 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, Sharepoint)
Likely Majors: CS, Any
Database Design (1-2 Students)
Specific Skills: Advanced Database Design. Students must have completed EECS 281 or equivalent.
Likely Majors: CS, DATA
Business Process Mapping (1-2 Students)
Specific Skills: Business process analysis and development. Efficiency and optimization. In addition, students must have general data science and computer science skills; please be sure to identify these in your personal statement.
Likely Majors: IOE, 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 Mentors
Kelly Hetzner
Kelly Hetzner is a Sales Manager in DENSO’s Sales & Marketing department in Southfield, MI with previous 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 and PM lead in powertrain and small motors.
Benedetto Manzella
Benedetto is a Sales Account Manager in DENSO’s Sales & Marketing department in Southfield, MI. He joined DENSO in 2015 working in the Toyota Sales Group, where he was the N.A. commercial lead in Small Motors. He is now the N.A. lead commercial lead for electronics, specifically in the mobility space.
Executive Mentor
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.
Faculty Mentor
Michael Hess
Michael Hess, adjunct lecturer, Solution Architect Lead at the University of Michigan and lead of the Drupal Security Team. Drupal is an open source content management framework that underlies at least 2% of the world’s websites, including whitehouse.gov and data.gov.uk. Hess works with the School of Information and the U-M Medical Center, teaching 3 courses on content management platform and overseeing the functionality of several campus websites. He also serves in a consulting and development role for many other University departments. Hess is a graduate of UMSI, with a Master’s Degree in Information.
Course Substitutions: Honors, ChE Elective, CS MDE/Capstone, CE MDE, EE MDE, IOE Senior Design, IOE Grad Cognate, ISD MFG 503, SI Elective, SI Grad Cognate
Citizenship Requirements: Due to DENSO’s employment requirements, this project is open to US Citizens/Permanent Residents only.
IP/NDA: Students will sign standard University of Michigan IP/NDA documents.
In Person/Remote Participation Options: Work will take place on campus with visits to the DENSO Headquarters in Southfield, MI as well as “go and see” to our manufacturing sites in Battle Creek, MI and Maryville, TN as local safety policies allow. Virtual meetings with our DENSO Belgium and Japan offices will take place. (MDP will provide transportation)
On Campus Requirements
Students on this team must be able to be physically present on campus in Ann Arbor and able and willing to travel to DENSO headquarters in Southfield, MI as safety protocols allow.
Internship/Summer Opportunity:
2022 Summer Internships (in Michigan & Tennessee) are required for students who participate on this team. Students will have one (1) week from offer to accept the project placement. By accepting a project offer, students are accepting an internship offer conditional on the criteria noted below. Students must participate in both.
All project students must participate in the DENSO summer internship program.
All students must:
– Pass a drug test
– Cumulative University of Michigan GPA > 3.0 preferred
Offer letters will include pay rates, dates, and conditions of the internship.