Welcome

Welcome to CAVS Extension, a unit of Mississippi State University focused on meeting the needs of Mississippi’s manufacturers by:

  • Providing technical expertise with advanced engineering tools
  • Providing professional development training geared for industry
  • Providing on-site project support in the areas of product and process improvement

Let us know how we can assist you.

"Our staff has industry experience – so we understand the problems industry faces – and we want to help solve these problems so that companies can grow and prosper in Mississippi."
- Tonya McCall
Director, CAVS Extension
Providing Advanced Technical Expertise in the Areas of Product and Process Improvement and Technology Transfer Improving Processes with Six Sigma Training and Support Helping Manufacturing, Service and Healthcare Industries through Lean Enhancing Industrial Systems Through Simulation and Decision Support
Economic Impact: $7,297,300,562
click here for details and success stories
Upcoming Training and Events

Measurement System Analysis: Gage Repeatability & Reproducibility
Aug 14, 2024

Course Objective:

This two day course will provide an introduction to the concepts of Measurement System Analysis (MSA), which is often referred to as Gage Repeatability & Reproducibility (Gage R&R). Participants will hone their individual skills during a step-by-step, instructor led interactive example using sample demonstration parts.

Course Content:
  • Introduction
    • What is MSA (Gage R&R)?
    • Why measurement Error Matters
    • Measurement System Analysis Terms
    • Gage Repeatability
    • Gage Reproducibility
    • Assessing Measurement System Capability
  • Classroom Activity
    • Overview of Gage R&R Forms
    • Exercise: Actual Inspection & Data Collection Using Sample Parts
    • Step-by-Step Calculations
    • Interpretation and Explanation of Calculated Results
    • Verification of Results Using Computer Software (Minitab, Excel, etc.)
  • In Plant Application
    • Divide the class into teams and perform the Gage R&R on actual inspection equipment
    • Each team present results to the rest of the class.

Who Should Attend? Engineers practicing in any discipline, managers, other technical professionals, and anyone responsible for collection and/or analysis of measurement data.

Participant Involvement: This workshop will provide attendees with basic instruction in the statistical analysis of measured data for the purpose of measurement system validation. Each participant should have a working knowledge of the typical measuring system(s) used in their work or professional environment and an understanding of how related data measurements are collected. The participant's basic understanding of mathematics (average, percentage, & square root, etc.) is assumed. A prior understanding of basic descriptive statistics such as mean, range, and standard deviation is desirable, but these topics will be also be defined and explained during the workshop. Participants will benefit from instructor led lecture, individual hands-on activity, and general discussion on related topics.

Instructor(s): Jonathan Howell and Montrell Marshall

Date(s): August 14-15, 2024 (Canton, MS)

Time: 8:00AM - 5:00PM

Location: MSU CAVS Extension - 153 Mississippi Parkway Canton, MS 39046

Cost: $700.00

Please contact Jill Sellers at jsellers@cavse.msstate.edu or 601-407-2746 if you have any questions.

Register

SPC 101 - Statistical Process Control
Aug 22, 2024

Course Objective:

This two day workshop is structured so that participants gain a solid understanding of the use of Statistical Process Control to drive process improvement. The class is taught through a balance lecture, class discussion, class exercises, and follow-on participant projects. Specific topics include both variables and attribute control charting. Specific variables control charting tools include X-BAR and R charts, as well as X and Moving R. Specific Attribute charting techniques are also presented including P, C, and U Charts. Also process capability indexes are presented and explained (i.e., Cp, Cpk, Pp, Ppk). Throughout the class a strong emphasis is placed on how to connect SPC with root causes oriented problem solving. Key concepts are reinforced through the use of catapults to simulate the real world linkage between SPC and process improvement.

Course Content:
  • Basics of Process Variation
  • Introduction to the Control Chart
  • Using Systematic Problem Solving to Drive Improvement
  • How a Control Chart Really Works
  • Basic Measures of Process Capability
  • SPC Class Exercise using Catapults

Who Should Attend? Manufacturing Engineers, Quality Engineers, Managers, Supervisors, and other professionals.

Instructor(s): Adam Collins

Date(s): August 22-23, 2024 (Canton, MS)

Time: 8:00AM - 5:00PM

Location: MSU CAVS Extension - 153 Mississippi Parkway Canton, MS 39046

Cost: $700.00

Please contact Jill Sellers at jsellers@cavse.msstate.edu or 601-407-2746 if you have any questions.

Register

Reliability 4.0: Using Industry 4.0 Tools to Transition from Reactive to Proactive Maintenance
Aug 28, 2024

Course Objective:

This two-day workshop explores how Industry 4.0 tools can be used to enhance your condition-based monitoring program to increase asset reliability. This is a hands-on interactive workshop that uses the simulated Industry 4.0 factory in our i4.0 Skills Accelerator Lab.

Course Content:
  • Industry 4.0 Overview
  • Condition Based Monitoring
  • Process Control Analysis
  • Equipment Criticality Ranking
  • Risk Mitigation (RCA/RCM)
  • Industry 4.0 Technologies for Maintenance
Who Should Attend?

Reliability engineers, manufacturing managers, process engineers, maintenance engineers, technicians, and maintenance and reliability managers.

Instructor(s): Jonathan Curtis , Jonathan Howell and Mike Burgett

Date(s): August 28-29, 2024

Time: 8:00AM - 5:00PM

Location: MSU CAVS Extension - 153 Mississippi Parkway Canton, MS 39046

Cost: $700.00

Please contact Jill Sellers at jsellers@cavse.msstate.edu or 601-407-2746 if you have any questions.

Register

Lean Certificate
Aug 28, 2024

Course Objective:

Course objective is to develop participant skills in the recognition and elimination of Waste, and to improve Flow in their operations. Participants will apply these techniques on an approved project.

Who Should Attend? Manufacturing Engineers, Quality Engineers, Industrial Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, Engineering Managers, Plant Managers

Participant Involvement: The training will consist of 4 two-day sessions (i.e., 64 hours of class time) scheduled during a four month period. Each participant is required to implement techniques and tools on an approved project that targets substantial benefits to their respective organizations. Each participant will receive consulting support both in and outside the classroom to assist with the successful completion of their project. It is anticipated that significant work outside the classroom will be expected in order to ensure maximum results from the student project.

Instructor(s): John Moore

Date(s): Fall 2024 (August 28-29 (Communiversity), September 18-19 (Communiversity), October 16-17 (Canton), November 20-21 (Canton))

Time: 8:00AM - 4:00PM

Location: Communiversity - 7003 South Frontage Road Columbus, MS 39701 & MSU CAVS Extension - 153 Mississippi Parkway Canton, MS 39046

Cost: $2900.00

Please contact Jill Sellers at jsellers@cavse.msstate.edu or 601-407-2746 if you have any questions.

Register

Minitab Statistical Software for Data Driven Problem Solving
Sep 11, 2024

Course Objective:

This workshop focuses on the visual exploration of data and problem solving using Minitab statistical software. We will use the Minitab to generate and interpret graphs to help analyze real-world industrial problems. The workshop will be highly interactive and include many hands-on practical examples. Topics will cover basic statistical principles and the application and use of statistical analysis methods.

Who Should Attend? The participants are expected to have some basic statistical experience since it is not possible to cover the details of probability and statistics during the workshop.

Instructor(s): Adam Collins and Travis Hill

Date(s): September 11, 2024 (Canton, MS)

Time: 8:00AM - 5:00PM

Location: MSU CAVS Extension - 153 Mississippi Parkway Canton, MS 39046

Cost: $350.00

Please contact Jill Sellers at jsellers@cavse.msstate.edu or 601-407-2746 if you have any questions.

Register

Lean Certificate - Healthcare
Sep 11, 2024

Program Description:

Our team of lean experts ensure that you gain the skills and training necessary to plan and launch a lean healthcare initiative in your organization. You will receive kaizen project experience and certification training in essential Toyota Production System (TPS) tools, which will benefit your hospital, physician practice, nursing home, clinic, laboratory, or health service.

Objective:

The "Healthcare Lean Certificate" course objective is to prepare participants for successful deployment of projects that improve the cost, quality, and speed of delivery of healthcare services. Each participant will develop skills in the recognition and elimination of "Wasteful practices", and the improvement of the "Flow" of service in hospital operations. Participants will also demonstrate the capability deploying systems improvement methodologies in the workplace on an approved project.

Synopsis:

The training will be delivered in 4 two-day sessions (i.e., 64 hours of class time) scheduled during a four month period. Training will cover a broad spectrum of lean topics. The four segments of Lean Certificate training are:

  • Session 1 - Customer Focus: Lean Concepts, Implementation Strategies, Kaizen, "A3" problem solving, Lean Leadership, Class project planning, and Clinic Kaizen Simulation
  • Session 2 - Eliminate Waste: "5S", Workplace Design, Visual Controls, Standard Work, Poka-Yoke (error proofing), Class project review, and Process Flow Simulation
  • Session 3 - Improve Flow: Pull Systems, "Supermarkets", Kanban, Takt Time (capacity planning), Paced Operations, Investment Efficiency, Heijunka (load leveling), Planned Maintenance, Class project review, and FMEA
  • Session 4 - Continuous Improvement: Value Stream Mapping, Class project review, Strategic Planning, CI Measurement Systems, and CI Project Management
Required Reading:

Lean Hospitals by Mark Graban, This books will be provided for each participant.

Certificate:

To earn a certificate of completion, participants will be required to complete all eight days of training. In addition, each participant is expected to implement techniques and tools provided in this training on an approved project that provides tangible benefits to their respective organizations. Each participant will receive consulting support both in and outside the classroom to assist with the successful completion of their project. "Healthcare Lean Certificates" of program completion will be awarded to each participant on the completion of the project implementation. CEU's are available if requested prior to the start of class. An additional fee may be required.

Attendees:

This training is designed for all healthcare professionals: doctors, clinicians, support staff, and administrators are encouraged to attend. Class size is currently limited to 18 participants.

Instructor(s): Susan Moore and John Moore

Date(s): Fall 2024 (September 11-12, October 9-10, November 6-7, December 4-5) (Canton, MS)

Time: 8:00AM - 5:00PM

Location: MSU CAVS Extension - 153 Mississippi Parkway Canton, MS 39046

Cost: $2900.00

Please contact Jill Sellers at jsellers@cavse.msstate.edu or 601-407-2746 if you have any questions.

Register

PFMEA in an Industry 4.0 Environment [Non-Nissan Suppliers]
Sep 17, 2024

Course Objective:

This one-day workshop will provide an introduction to Process Failure Mode Effects Analysis, Root Cause Analysis, Poka-yoke Principles, and Process Control Plans as tools to identify and manage risk in an Industry 4.0 environment. The methodology emphasizes implementing proactive countermeasures driven by data and cross-functional expertise to prevent mistakes from becoming defects that cause customer dissatisfaction and increase costs. The training is reinforced with team activities following the 10-step mistake proofing process on a simulated Industry 4.0 factory in our i4.0 Skills Accelerator Lab.

Course Content:
  • Process Mapping
  • Identifying Failure Modes
  • Root Cause Analysis
  • PFMEA Template
  • Evaluating Severity, Occurrence, and Detection
  • Process Controls
  • Prioritizing and Reducing Risks
  • Control Plans
  • Sampling
  • Inspection Reports
Who Should Attend?

Engineers, supervisors, and managers who want to take a more proactive, systematic approach to process risk management.

Instructor(s): Adam Collins and Montrell Marshall

Date(s): September 17, 2024 (Canton, MS)

Time: 8:00AM - 5:00PM

Location: MSU CAVS Extension - 153 Mississippi Parkway Canton, MS 39046

Cost: $350.00

Please contact Jill Sellers at jsellers@cavse.msstate.edu or 601-407-2746 if you have any questions.

Register

8D Problem Solving in an Industry 4.0 Environment [Non-Nissan Suppliers]
Sep 18, 2024

Course Objective:

This two-day workshop will discuss the 8D problem solving process in an Industry 4.0 environment. 8D Problem Solving is a disciplined and effective approach to solve chronic and recurring problems. 8D provides excellent guidelines to identify the root cause of the problem, implement containment actions, develop and then implement corrective and preventive actions to eliminate the problem permanently. This is accomplished by utilizing a simulated Industry 4.0 Factory and completing a hands on walk through of the 8D disciplines. Attendees will also complete an 8D long form during the simulated activity.

Course Content:
  • Industry 4.0 Overview
  • Process Mapping
  • 8 Disciplines of Problem Solving
  • 8D Long Form
  • Root Cause Analysis
  • Real-world Problem-Solving Simulation
Who Should Attend?

Engineers, supervisors, and managers who want to take a more proactive, systematic approach to problem solving.

Instructor(s): Jonathan Howell and Montrell Marshall

Date(s): September 18-19, 2024 (Canton, MS)

Time: 8:00AM - 5:00PM

Location: MSU CAVS Extension - 153 Mississippi Parkway Canton, MS 39046

Cost: $700.00

Please contact Jill Sellers at jsellers@cavse.msstate.edu or 601-407-2746 if you have any questions.

Register