A team of Industrial and Enterprise Systems students earned second place in the 2025 CICMHE and MHI Student Design Competition for their data-driven AMR optimization project with Thermoflex, applying core ISE methods to a real industry challenge. Their success highlights the impact of experiential learning in the Senior Design Capstone, where students turn classroom knowledge into solutions that shape modern manufacturing.
Written by Ashley Sims
A team of Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering students at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign earned second place in the 2025 CICMHE and MHI Student Design Competition, hosted by the College-Industry Council on Material Handling Education (CICMHE) and the Material Handling Industry (MHI).
The team made up of, now ISE Alumni, Anna Ondrejckova, Chinmay Bhogilal, Sangmin Kim, and Samuel Baser, was advised by ISE Alumni and Senior Instructor Mike Brunetto and partnered with Thermoflex, a Tier One automotive supplier specializing in plastic manufacturing. Their project, “Robotic AMR Optimization Analysis and Implementation Plan,” addressed a real-world challenge: helping Thermoflex determine the most effective autonomous mobile robot (AMR) system to optimize pallet movement and reduce reliance on fork truck operators.
Using methods learned through ISE courses, such as Multi-Criteria Decision Making, Simulation Modeling in Arena, and Engineering Economics, the students developed a data-driven plan for integrating AMRs into Thermoflex’s operations. Judges praised their project as “an excellent example of a capstone project,” noting its strong economic analysis and well-supported conclusions.
Reflecting on the experience, Chinmay Bhogilal emphasized the importance of collaboration and alignment in engineering practice. “Holding regular meetings with stakeholders is key to project management,” he said. “Making sure your direction is aligned to their goals and visions is critical for solution generation and deployment.”
He added that the Senior Design Capstone Project experience offered valuable preparation for life after graduation. “In the real world, engineering is rarely done solo,” Bhogilal said. “Our project offered the unique experience of working directly with vendors and company partners and attending cutting-edge industry events like ProMat 2025.”
The competition, which drew entries from universities across the country, recognizes student teams that apply industrial and systems engineering principles to real-world material handling challenges.
Through experiences like Senior Design, ISE students at Illinois bridge the gap between theory and practice. They translate what they learn in the classroom into solutions that drive innovation in industry. This kind of experiential learning not only deepens technical understanding but also fosters the confidence and communication skills that enable Grainger engineers to lead with impact.