Students on this team will become familiar with DENSO’s core processes while developing enhanced connectivity between existing software business systems for improved commercial management. All qualifying student team members will be offered an optional DENSO 2023 Summer Internship based in Michigan/Tennessee/Remote. (see website and brief for internship qualifications)
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.
DENSO’s current processes are effective and well documented, but utilizing Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software can greatly improve and enhance the value of work by making the product development process more accessible while improving efficiency. Students on this team will become intimately familiar with DENSO’s core processes in commercial management (supply chain, finance, supplier communication, etc.) and product readiness, while developing and modifying the ARAS product lifecycle management (PLM) software which allows us to find ways to integrate existing processes for increased business efficiencies.
Impact:
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.
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, Sharepoint)
Likely Majors: CS, Any
Database Design (1-2 Students)
Specific Skills: Advanced Database Design
We will use a SQL database format
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 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 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.
David Barnes
David Barnes is a Manager of Business Operations and Planning in DENSO’s Sales & Marketing Division in Southfield, MI. He joined DENSO in 2008, where he led North American monthly sales reporting and sales planning / industry analysis. Since then, David has focused on growing the organizations capability in these areas via process improvement, task automation, and business intelligence. Today, he and his team continue to lead the sales planning / forecasting activity alongside administering to key operational systems, while promoting digital reform across Sales & Marketing Division. Over the course of his career, David has interfaced with DENSO’s key global regions, and has co-led sales planning systems improvement projects with DENSO Europe and DENSO Japan.
Julia Meyer
Julia Meyer is a Toyota Sales Account Manager in the thermal commodity group in DENSO’s Sales & Marketing division headquartered in Southfield, MI. Since starting in 2010, Julia has become an SME within the mass production and delivery group while simultaneously working on many cost recovery tasks. Julia enjoys collaborating on special kaizen projects that help efficiency workloads for Toyota, DENSO plants, and her Sales colleagues through various process improvement initiatives.
Mitch Farrell
Mitch Farrell is a Business System Analyst within the Business Operations and Planning Department, supporting the DENSO Sales & Marketing division in Southfield, MI. He joined DENSO in March 2020, challenged with improving internal processes and systems at a time of historic automotive industry transformation. In order to meet this challenge, Mitch has been focused on digital reform including process improvement, task automation, and business intelligence.
Executive Mentors
Chad Bandilla
Chad Bandilla is Director of Strategic Operations & Planning at DENSO International America in Southfield, MI. In this role, Chad has responsibilities covering DENSO’s transition to electrification (GREEN strategy leader), business operations / planning leadership and business development for DENSO’s expansion into the urban air mobility / shared mobility / ride sharing space. Chad has held a variety of positions of increasing responsibility at DENSO since joining the company in 2002. With 20+ years of experience in the global automotive business landscape, Chad’s role in advanced mobility strategy, wide range of experience in a variety of business functions, and his understanding of the stakeholders in an international automotive marketplace make him an expert with an ability to influence those around him.
Stacey Skerske
Stacey Skerske is a director of Sales & Marketing, responsible for Toyota Sales Thermal, Powertrain, and Electrification business at DENSO International America, Inc., in Southfield, MI. Stacey joined DENSO in 1996, where she was responsible for delivery control for the North American market. Throughout her career, she has served in various roles within Delivery Control, Program Management, Marketing / Pricing and Accounts Receivables.
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.
Citizenship Requirements:
- This project is open to all students
- International students on an F-1 visa will be required to declare part-time CPT during Winter 2023 and Fall 2023 terms.
IP/NDA: Students will be required to sign standard University of Michigan IP/NDA documents.
Internship/Summer Opportunity:
- The internship commitment is between May 15 – August 4, 2023 and could be located in Southfield, Michigan, Tennessee, or as a remote position.
- Student team members who meet our requirements will be offered Summer 2023 internships but are not required to accept them in order to participate on the team.
- Internship offers will be extended to team members who meet the following conditions:
- Students must have the right to work in the US
- Students must pass a drug test
- UMich GPA>=3.0
- DENSO internship offer timeline:
- Internship interest discussion: Upon acceptance of MDP offer
- Placement Interview Scheduled: 2 weeks after acceptance of MDP offer
- Placement Interview takes place: 3 weeks after acceptance of MDP offer
- Internship offer letter from DENSO: 4 weeks after acceptance of MDP offer
- Acceptance required by: 3 business days after offer is extended
- NOTE: timing may be slightly impacted by Thanksgiving holiday depending on timing of MDP offer