Modernizing Inventory Management
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (07/20/2026) — ISyE seniors Luke Brown, Mason Day, Owen Pieper and Pattarapong Santiworarak partnered with project sponsors (and University of Minnesota alum) Sam Arneson and Chris Arneson from Professional Instruments Company, an ultra-high precision manufacturing company that produces low-volume, high-complexity products located in the Minneapolis area.
Professional Instruments Company has been maintaining inventory using manual pen-and-paper tracking. This current system requires extensive time spent looking for products that have been misplaced or still need to be added to inventory, and it lacks in optimal product ordering and arrival tracking. This system has not only led to an estimated yearly cost of $5,400, but has also led to increased employee stress.
Considering this cost and employee morale impact, as well as the upcoming retirement of key personnel who work to maintain inventory, the company saw this as an opportunity to implement a formal inventory system, and the ISyE team was ready to help.
To address Professional Instruments Company’s needs, the ISyE team worked to develop a system using the Plan-Do-Check-Act project management structure.
During the ‘Plan’ phase, the team collected data using user interviews, Gemba walkthroughs (observe, engage, and identify opportunities for continuous improvement directly where work happens) and process mapping.
With the collected data, the team entered the ‘Do’ phase and developed a prototype for the inventory system utilizing human-centered design techniques. This prototype was then tested in the ‘Check’ phase where the team collected data about the prototypes ease of use and critques from various employees.
The prototype was revised three times until the final deliverable was presented as an Excel spreadsheet that tracked shipping and recieving, as well as documented inventory and location. Additionally, the team proposed a secondary sheet that would be printed and displayed on the manufacturing floor to give employees better visability of current inventory and order status.
Gaining valuable experience in system integration and project planning, the team learned the importance of employee input and buy-in, as well as developing a clear scope early on.
The ISyE team’s final inventory system will provide great value to Professional Instruments Company. It is expected to improve inventory management processes by reducing time spent searching and increasing transparency of order status. Overall, this solution will provide a more streamlined, scalable, and efficient approach to inventory management, which supports the company’s long-term operational sustainability, as well as their employees’ morale.