Westrom, Sheikh & Matchoumboud (’16) Take 2nd in Int'l Design Competition

CME’s Honeycomb Helper Takes 2nd in International Student Design Competition, 2LT Michael Westrom won 2nd place for his team’s design at the Rehabilitative Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) Student Design Competition in Washington D.C. The design, titled the “Honeycomb Helper”, assists workers with disabilities in packaging pharmaceutical bottles on a production line. 2LT Westrom, along with team members 2LT Rex Sheikh and 2LT Mc Crwuz Leonce Matchoumboud, partnered with Access: Supports for Living - a non-profit manufacturing company that employs workers with disabilities in Middletown, NY. The pharmaceutical bottle line is a mainstay product for Access but poses challenges for many workers with disabilities. The Honeycomb Helper incorporated a honeycomb-shaped frame to assist workers with packing bottles in the client-specified staggered pattern. Using the Honeycomb Helper, additional workers are packaging bottles and earning a higher wage and Access realizes higher production for its mainstay product. RESNA is the premier professional organization dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of people with disabilities through increasing access to technology solutions. 91 teams from across North America submitted designs for the competition. In addition to presenting his design, 2LT Westrom also participated in a poster session.