Dynamic Conveyor and Muskegon Middle School: A Collaborative Journey in Design Thinking

Recently, Dynamic Conveyor worked with Muskegon Middle School’s Design Thinking Class. Together, we focused on building skills for innovation, problem solving, and future career success. 

The collaboration included Matt Zehr (Manager of Applications & Product Development Engineering), Matt Cuti (Design Engineer) and Tom Foley (Manager, Quality Systems, HR & Administration). The staff members first visited the school to share insights about Dynamic Conveyor and the integral role design thinking plays in our conveyor engineering and manufacturing processes. This visit was just the beginning of an inspiring journey for the students.

School Visit: Introducing Design Thinking

During our visit to the school our team engaged with the students and explained how the design thinking process is applied in creating our innovative conveyor systems.

The students learned about how our design process is a collaborative effort that spans across our sales, applications engineering, engineering, and production teams. This interdisciplinary approach ensures we achieve a high level of innovation, continuously improving our products and processes the outcomes of a finished product. This collaborative spirit is essential in driving our success and maintaining our reputation as leaders in the conveyor manufacturing industry and creates an inspiring culture for the people who work at Dynamic Conveyor. 

Our staff introduced students to the concept of modularity in our conveyor lines, particularly the DynaCon line which is renowned for its reconfigurability. This modularity allows for endless possibilities, much like building blocks, making it an ideal example of design thinking in action.

Plant Visit: Firsthand Learning Experience

As a follow-up to the school visit, the students had the opportunity to visit our manufacturing plant. This visit was interactive and allowed the students to see firsthand how the design and production processes work. Students had the chance to build a DynaCon conveyor themselves, experiencing the flexibility and creativity involved in our manufacturing process.

Preparing for the West Michigan Design Prize

The students are now gearing up for the West Michigan Design Prize competition, which will take place on February 27, 2025 at the Grand Rapids Art Museum. The main goals of their class project are to design and create a product that encourages community connection and respectful enjoyment of public spaces. This project challenges the students to think creatively and use their problem-solving skills, embodying the principles of design thinking.

Transformative Experience and Future Possibilities

Through this collaboration, the students gained a transformative experience. They learned valuable design principles, saw real-world industry applications, and explored potential career paths in engineering and manufacturing. This partnership not only enriched their educational journey but also highlighted the importance of creativity and innovation in solving real-world problems.

Dynamic Conveyor is proud to support the next generation of designers, engineers and problem solvers.  We look forward to seeing the innovative solutions the students will present at the West Michigan Design Prize and are excited about the future possibilities this experience has opened for them.