CISE Teams with MillerCoors

Encouraging partnerships within and outside of the university has always been one of the goals of JMU’s College of Integrated Science and Engineering. JMU as a whole also promotes environmental sustainability and energy efficiency throughout the community. That is why it was a perfect match when MillerCoors reached out to JMU for ways to further reduce their energy consumption and environmental impact. Since then, the ISAT and Engineering Departments have worked with MillerCoors through student internships and capstone projects that promote energy savings, while giving students invaluable experience with a real-world client.

The local MillerCoors production plant is the largest company in the Shenandoah Valley, as well as one of the most energy efficient breweries in the world. Before the current projects, MillerCoors had already spent millions installing a cutting-edge waste water treatment system that reduces potential nutrients to the Chesapeake Bay, a brewery biogas generator which converts waste methane back into electricity, and an elaborate automation system that maximizes efficiency while monitoring data on the system’s operations. “The MillerCoors facility is one of the most technologically advanced breweries in the world,” explained ISAT professor Dr. Chris Bachmann. “There’s so much [ISAT and Engineering students] can learn about this facility that’s applicable to a lot of other business and industries.”

While the two had worked on similar programs in the past, the current collaboration began in 2008 when JMU faculty was invited by MillerCoors to look at energy efficiency options. In December of 2012, a team of ISAT and Engineering faculty went to tour the facility and begin a conversation about possible projects. “We were asked to propose one or two projects that JMU could engage in with MillerCoors related to energy or material efficiency,” said Engineering professor and project advisor Dr. Jacquelyn Nagel. “We talked about what are MillerCoors’ needs or issues around different efficiencies with their brewing process.”

The first project chosen was an energy audit of their brewhouse, evaluating the feasibility of adding more insulation to brewhouse pipes. The first student to tackle this project was Matt Wisniewski (‘13), a JMU engineering student who began gathering data and determining how best to approach the question during the summer of 2013. “Matt started taking baseline data, looking at the current temperatures of all these different pipes related to two parts of the brewing process,” Nagel explained.

This initial step was followed by the first ISAT capstone project, with students Matthew Hess (‘14) and Lindsay Nguyen (‘14) continuing Wisniewski’s work determining MillerCoors pipe insulation needs. After the two collected and analyzed more data, they determined that the idea was not cost effective, which resulted in saving MillerCoors a large sum of money. “These students took ownership of the project, and by the second semester they knew the ins and outs more than anyone,” said ISAT professor and project advisor Dr. Karim Altaii. “That’s when my job is done, when they’re on their own making the connections and having the confidence.”

The success of these projects resulted in the two current capstone projects, with two teams of ISAT and Engineering students working together to explore energy Since its inception, the collaboration has been mutually beneficial for both MillerCoors and JMU. “The students get to be in a professional setting, where they work with professionals and begin to understand the dynamics of an enterprise,” - Kyle Gipsonoptions at MillerCoors’ administration building. “This time instead of energy efficiency for the brewhouse, we’re looking at efficiencies related to HVAC, or heating, ventilating, and air conditioning, for their business building,” said Nagel. The independent teams of ISAT and Engineering students bring their own expertise in tackling how best MillerCoors can save energy and money. “I think that it is awesome to have two student teams working together, because that’s really what’s going to happen when they get into the workplace,” Nagel continued. “You’re going to be a part of a group that works with other units, so we’re providing them that real experience."

MillerCoors has been supportive in the collaboration from the start, with employees like Mike Ouderkirk, Walter Heeb, and Nyeshu Street helping put the projects together, providing information, and supervising the students. Today the relationship has expanded to include employees Josh Mason and Derek Hafley. “The employees at MillerCoors have been open and gracious with their time, as well as the time of the [students] who are working on this project with them,” said engineering professor and project advisor Dr. Kyle Gipson. “They have made it a point to be a part of these projects, and they are fully engaged in being a part of the process.”

Since its inception, the collaboration has been mutually beneficial for both MillerCoors and JMU. “The students get to be in a professional setting, where they work with professionals and begin to understand the dynamics of an enterprise,” explained Gipson. “The capstone as a whole is an integrative piece of the curriculum, but having a corporate sponsor gives students a methodology to see that the theory they’re learning in class has practical applications.” For MillerCoors, the employees get access to hard working and bright students, as well as fresh perspectives. “Interacting with the talent pool at JMU is very beneficial to MillerCoors. It engages the expertise of the faculty and brings the youthful energy of the students to their facility,” Bachmann added. “The JMU partnership inspires them.”

The current ISAT capstone project will be completed in the spring of 2015, followed by the engineering capstone in the spring of 2016.