The IMSEI program is unique in that it makes use of faculty, course offerings, and laboratory facilities within the traditional engineering, computer science, business, textiles, and other departments to offer an independent master’s degree, authorized to be awarded by the faculty who associate with and participate in the activities supported by the IMSE Institute. A further unique feature of the program is that some of the funds that support the program come from annual membership fees provided by a consortium of industrial sponsors and service contract agreements with the North Carolina industry. The program is designed to help students:
- appreciate how different relevant classical disciplines make an impact on manufacturing systems engineering;
- gain specific knowledge and develop special skills in areas of modern manufacturing technology; and
- apply their knowledge in current research and/or applications problems in manufacturing systems, often during an internship.