GISP high school successfully delivers ‘live’ Continuous Improvement Project to industry

This year, through the Gateway to Industry Schools Program (GISP), we had the privilege of connecting Kelvin Grove State High School, the Gateway hub for Engineering, with industry partner, Cascade Australia, fostering an opportunity to deliver a ‘live’ Continuous Improvement Project together.

The student and teacher Gateway Day tour of Cascade’s manufacturing facility in Darra, helped students gain insights into the application of the LEAN philosophy, a safety induction and advanced manufacturing applications and opportunities evolving for Queensland manufacturers.

Following discussions with Cascade engineers, Certificate II Engineering Pathway students took on a project to improve the safety of the warehousing pallet racking. Cascade provided the team support via supplying engineering drawings, and, at minimal commercial cost, a great solution was created.

In October, the students successfully completed the project and officially handed it over to the business to include as part of Cascade Australia’s BAU operations.

A huge thanks to everyone involved, especially Cascade and Mr Gary Paxton, Engineering teacher at Kelvin Grove State College. A skilled and dedicated teacher, Gary has shared his experience with other teachers and industry in the network at the recent Metro Advancing Manufacturing Gateway network Meeting. This was such a positive collaboration, benefiting both manufacturing, and our future workforce. If you have a continuous improvement project and don’t know how to connect, contact the GISP program manager or call QMI on (07)3364 0700.

Take a peak at some photos showing the roll out of this project:

Year 11 and 12 students receiving a tour of the Cascade workshop

Student prototyping of parts to upskill their knowledge and practical skills

Cascade and students working together during the project manufacture phase

Students work in groups to engineer and manufacture a solution

The final product! Just a lick of paint to go.

Project complete!

Now it’s time to share this great story industry. Gary Paxton, Engineering teacher at Kelvin Grove State College presents the continuous improvement project at the Metro Advancing Manufacturing Gateway Network Meeting.