Skip to main content

MilliporeSigma

Bag Handling Project

Sample bags are commonly used in the food industry to grow bacteria in a food/media “broth” over a set period of time, until the bacteria reaches a detectable level. This sampling process is completely manual and usually requires more than one person. Larger bags especially pose a challenge to lab technicians. In 2020/21 a capstone team worked to improve the ergonomics and efficiency of sample bag handling within a typical lab work environment. This student team continued their work and developed a solution to improve the long-term efficiency and reduce the number of lab technicians required in the bag handling process.

Faculty Adviser(s)

Patty Buchanan, Industrial & Systems Engineering

Related News

Industry capstone team standing inside elevator

Elevating emerging engineers

The Industry Capstone Program partners UW Engineering students with sponsor organizations to devise innovation solutions to real-world problems.

Five students in front of their poster at the capstone expo.

Capstone collaboration leads to award

An ME capstone team received first place for its energy audit of the UW School of Social Work building.

People examining a table with mechanical prototypes and a laptop at an exhibition.

Capstone creations

Students displayed innovative capstone design projects at the 2025 expo.