College of Engineering Unit:
Beaver Classic is a student-run food brand in the College of Food, Science and Technology at Oregon State University. The Beaver Classic Food Truck is a recent addition to the brand that attends local events in the Corvallis area. It offers a variety of student-made products, including cheese, ice cream, grilled cheese sandwiches, jerky, and honey.
As a new venture, there is a significant potential for improvements in the truck's operations. Our team of Industrial Engineering students was tasked with identifying areas for improvement and developing a set of recommendations to optimize the performance of the truck. To achieve this, we thoroughly analyzed the food truck's current processes to identify areas for improvement. Our team, along with the project sponsor, Robin Frojen, identified the organization of the truck to be the main focus of improvement.
The Beaver Classic Food Truck was the project sponsor’s dream and she devoted a substantial amount of time and effort into getting the truck operational for the students to run. This project benefited the sponsor by creating organizational standards that provided a critical foundation for further improvements to the truck in the future. Along with the project sponsor, this project is of significant relevance to the College of Food, Science and Technology, as the food truck serves as a primary way to promote the students and the quality of their products. The food truck provides an opportunity for the students to showcase their skills and creativity in the food industry, which helps to create a sense of community and pride around Oregon State University. The project is crucial for sustaining the food truck's operations and supporting the educational and research programs of the college. By enhancing the performance of the Beaver Classic Food Truck, we can increase its profitability, reduce waste, and enhance the overall customer experience, which is critical for the long-term success of the college's food brand. This project also addresses contemporary issues such as sustainability, waste reduction, and efficient business models in the food industry. As the food truck industry becomes increasingly popular, it is essential for food trucks to adapt to beat out competition. Our project identified common lean manufacturing practices and how they can be applied in the food industry, making it highly valuable for the food industry as a whole.
Industry Sponsor(s):
| Attachment | Size |
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 mime.207.poster.pdf | 2.44 MB |