ISyE in Manufacturing Automation
With an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from North Dakota State University, Sam Boraas began his master’s studies in 2019 and graduated with the M.S. in Industrial and Systems Engineering in the Systems Engineering track in spring 2023. He is now the Director of Mechanical Engineering and Advance Engineering for Critical Handling Solutions (CHS) at PAR Systems.
Based in Shoreview, Minnesota, PAR Systems designs and builds custom automated manufacturing systems used in a variety of fields including healthcare, aerospace, and the nuclear industry. As the Director of Mechanical Engineering and CHS Advance Engineering, Boraas oversees the mechanical engineering department for advanced manufacturing and critical handling solutions, and oversees engineering support for creating proposals for the design of custom systems.
Boraas started working for PAR Systems in 2008 as a contractor and has risen through several positions at PAR since then. He saw a chance to advance his career through the University of Minnesota’s Systems Engineering program. He was drawn to the possibility of tailoring his coursework to the specific needs of his career path. He was especially interested in broadening his understanding of how to manage software and controls from a system-level perspective. As his work role at PAR shifted over time, Boraas became more interested in the business side of things. The flexibility of the Systems Engineering program allowed him to adjust his coursework to meet that interest. Boraas comments that “[the flexibility] was one of the greatest parts of this degree program because it offers people such as myself an opportunity to morph the degree into what works best for them, for their career.”
The curriculum also allowed Boraas to gain a new perspective on aspects of systems engineering. For instance, he notes that “(t)he coursework helped me see the process better through our customers’ eyes… I got an opportunity to actually develop customer specification documents myself, and I realized how difficult it is and how hard it can be for customers to try to explain what they need when that's maybe never been built before.” Through his coursework, he also expanded his knowledge of accounting, finance, and management.
Boraas’ advisor and ISyE Professor William Cooper recalls Boraas’ time in the department and his career now: “It is great to see the interesting things that Sam is working on at PAR. For me, one of the most rewarding parts of my job is to see such successful graduates.”
Ultimately, Boraas’ time in ISyE was a fulfilling experience that was immediately applicable and valuable in his career. With a strong desire to stay with PAR Systems, Boraas knows that his degree will help him continue to excel in his current position as well as open opportunities for growth in the future.