LehighWeek Volume 02, Issue 25

              Rauch Center Groundbreaking 3
Stabler Named Arena Of The Year 3
'Moonchildren' Opens On Stage 6
ii
I Pv A.
LIN:
The Lehigh family has once again come
together — people helping people. 55
—vice president Marsha Duncan addressing Scholarship Dinner
Scholarships, Page
Volume Two,
Issue Twentyfive
^fm Lehigh ^University, ^BP"       A       —mr   Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
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April 12, 1989
Dennis Knesz, a machinist at Dent Manufacturing, Inc. in Northampton, works at the Bridgeport Computer
Numerically Controlled (CNC) milling machine.
MSEC Helps Local Firm Be Competitive
By Penny Savakis
Media Relations
Dent Manufacturing, Inc. is proof that with a little expert
advice and assistance, you can make a good thing better.
Dent, a Northampton manufacturer of custom non-
ferrous hardware and castings since its founding in 1956,
has been successful in its manual operation for years. But
Douglas Dodge, general manager, knew automation was
necessary to improve productivity and customer satisfaction.
His technical and management team first went looking
for answers in catalogs listing off-the-shelf technology, but
felt overwhelmed by what was on the market.
Then Dodge heard about MSEC, the Lehigh University-
based Manufacturing Services Extension Center.
"We felt it was time to move into the 20th century, but
we were not sure how to go about it," he said. "After
hearing about MSEC, we decided that was the direction to
go. It's an excellent resource center. Without their help, we
would still be reading catalogs."
As one of nine industrial resource centers established in
Pennsylvania, MSEC helps small- and medium-sized
manufacturers in Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon, Monroe,
Schuylkill, Berks and Bucks counties identify, evaluate, and
implement new technologies and techniques in order to
become more productive and competitive.
One of MSEC's staff manufacturing professionals served
as Dent's project manager. "MSEC provided us with access
to the right resources and introduced us to the CIM Lab
people. They reviewed the whole situation and suggested
software and other resources. They really got the project off
the ground." said Dodge.
The CIM Lab (Computer Integrated Manufacturing
Laboratory) team working on the Dent project included
Doug Sunday, Augustine Rullan and Pulkesh Patel. They
were instrumental in setting the program in place. After
visiting the plant and meeting with employees to determine
Dent's needs, they proposed a solution and then followed
through with guidance, including personalized on-the-job
training.
The team assisted in the selection of a personal computer
and basic software, including word processing, spreadsheet
and data base management. Using the software, they
developed customized routines to improve the handling of
customer orders and the maintaining of a data base of
customer orders to assist shop scheduling.
"MSEC can help small manufacturers like Dent because
we have staff with manufacturing experience to help define
the problem, know where to obtain additional expertise to
find the solution, manage the project and help pay for the
services," said Edith D. Ritter, MSEC's executive director.
Through automation. Dent Manufacturing has reduced the
time needed to handle routine activities, and has increased
information accuracy and customer satisfaction. The work
flow through the shop is more efficient, which will result in
reduced inventory cost.
"We have seen dramatic results," said Dodge. "In the
machine shop, for example, the 'lead time,' the time from
the initial inquiry regarding the product to the actual finished
product, has been cut from eight weeks to two weeks. The
introduction of a CNC (computer numerically controlled)
milling machine will cut production time by two thirds on
some jobs."
Continued On Page 4>
Sterrett Named
Athletic Director
By Ron Ticho
Lehigh University Writers' Group
Joseph D. Sterrett, an Ail-American quarterback at
Lehigh University in 1975, has been appointed assistant
vice president for student affairs and director of athletics.
The announcement was made on April
6, 1989 by Marsha A. Duncan, vice
president for student affairs.
Sterrett, who received his bachelor's of arts and master's of education
degrees from Lehigh and his doctorate
in education from Temple University,
will assume the responsibilities of the
department of athletics effective July
1, 1989 when John C. Whitehead, who
announced his retirement earlier this
year, steps down after three years as
director of athletics.
Sterrett will relinquish his current position in the division
of student affairs, where he is responsible for the university's enrollment functions—the office of admission,
financial aid, registrar and career services.
"This is a very exciting time for Lehigh and athletics at
the University. We've been involved in a national search
for several months and from that search we discovered that
the finest person for the position was right here on our
campus," Duncan said.
"Joe is familiar with Lehigh and he brings a combination
of the old and the new—he experienced Lehigh as a student
in the 1970s and has been a key participant in the adminis-
Continued On Page 5>
Joseph Sterrett
Missimer To Retire Sept. 1;
Boig Will Head Admission
By Rita T. Malone
Lehigh University Writers' Group
Patricia Gedney Boig has been named director of the
office of admission at Lehigh University, replacing Samuel
H. Missimer, who is retiring after 39 years of service to
Lehigh, including 27 years as director of admission.
The promotion was announced by Marsha A. Duncan,
Lehigh's vice president of student affairs. The change will
be effective September l.
Boig currently serves as director of major gifts for
Lehigh's development office, working with key alumni to
promote the University. In this role she has coordinated
Lehigh's Challenge 35-35 financial aid campaign and the
completion phase of the Rauch Business Center campaign.
She joined the staff in 1979 as manager of development
services, and has also served as assistant director of
development for two years and director of the annual fund
from 1984 to 1987.
"Few individuals have played such a significant role in
the life of Lehigh as Sam Missimer and his presence and
wisdom will be deeply missed," said Duncan. "Filling
Sam's shoes will not be a simple assignment, but we have
great confidence in Pat Boig's ability to provide future
leadership for this critical area of the University."
Continued On Page 5>