Welcome

Welcome to CAVS Extension, a unit of Mississippi State University focused on meeting the needs of Mississippi’s manufacturers by:

  • Providing technical expertise with advanced engineering tools
  • Providing professional development training geared for industry
  • Providing on-site project support in the areas of product and process improvement

Let us know how we can assist you.

"Our staff has industry experience – so we understand the problems industry faces – and we want to help solve these problems so that companies can grow and prosper in Mississippi."
- Tonya McCall
Director, CAVS Extension
Providing Advanced Technical Expertise in the Areas of Product and Process Improvement and Technology Transfer Improving Processes with Six Sigma Training and Support Helping Manufacturing, Service and Healthcare Industries through Lean Enhancing Industrial Systems Through Simulation and Decision Support
Economic Impact: $7,297,300,562
click here for details and success stories
Upcoming Training and Events

Financial Fundamentals
Oct 09, 2024

Course Objective:

In this course, using interactive business simulation where you will be immersed in setting and running your own business, you will develop a new ability to visualize corporate financial information as a single landscape of interacting forces. You will experience how other departments affect how you do your job, and how you do your job affects other departments.

Instructor(s): Jonathan Howell

Date(s): October 9, 2024 (Canton, MS)

Time: 8:00AM - 5:00PM

Location: MSU CAVS Extension - 153 Mississippi Parkway Canton, MS 39046

Cost: $350.00

Please contact Jill Sellers at jsellers@cavse.msstate.edu or 601-407-2746 if you have any questions.

Register

Reliability 4.0: Using Industry 4.0 Tools to Transition from Reactive to Proactive Maintenance
Oct 10, 2024

Course Objective:

This two-day workshop explores how Industry 4.0 tools can be used to enhance your condition-based monitoring program to increase asset reliability. This is a hands-on interactive workshop that uses the simulated Industry 4.0 factory in our i4.0 Skills Accelerator Lab.

Course Content:
  • Industry 4.0 Overview
  • Condition Based Monitoring
  • Process Control Analysis
  • Equipment Criticality Ranking
  • Risk Mitigation (RCA/RCM)
  • Industry 4.0 Technologies for Maintenance
Who Should Attend?

Reliability engineers, manufacturing managers, process engineers, maintenance engineers, technicians, and maintenance and reliability managers.

Instructor(s): Jonathan Curtis , Jonathan Howell and Mike Burgett

Date(s): October 10-11, 2024

Time: 8:00AM - 5:00PM

Location: MSU CAVS Extension - 153 Mississippi Parkway Canton, MS 39046

Cost: $700.00

Please contact Jill Sellers at jsellers@cavse.msstate.edu or 601-407-2746 if you have any questions.

Register

AutoCAD
Oct 16, 2024

Course Objective:

This two day workshop is structured so that participants gain a solid understanding of the use of AutoCAD computer aided design software. The class is taught through a balance lecture, class discussion, and in-class exercises. Time will also be allocated to discuss user specific needs and solutions. Specific topics include basic sketching, dimensioning, block creation and editing and proper usage of layers.

Instructor(s): Jonathan Curtis and Jonathan Howell

Date(s): October 16-17, 2024 (Canton, MS)

Time: 8:00AM - 5:00PM

Location: MSU CAVS Extension - 153 Mississippi Parkway Canton, MS 39046

Cost: $700.00

Please contact Jill Sellers at jsellers@cavse.msstate.edu or 601-407-2746 if you have any questions.

Register

PFMEA in an Industry 4.0 Environment [Non-Nissan Suppliers]
Oct 22, 2024

Course Objective:

This one-day workshop will provide an introduction to Process Failure Mode Effects Analysis, Root Cause Analysis, Poka-yoke Principles, and Process Control Plans as tools to identify and manage risk in an Industry 4.0 environment. The methodology emphasizes implementing proactive countermeasures driven by data and cross-functional expertise to prevent mistakes from becoming defects that cause customer dissatisfaction and increase costs. The training is reinforced with team activities following the 10-step mistake proofing process on a simulated Industry 4.0 factory in our i4.0 Skills Accelerator Lab.

Course Content:
  • Process Mapping
  • Identifying Failure Modes
  • Root Cause Analysis
  • PFMEA Template
  • Evaluating Severity, Occurrence, and Detection
  • Process Controls
  • Prioritizing and Reducing Risks
  • Control Plans
  • Sampling
  • Inspection Reports
Who Should Attend?

Engineers, supervisors, and managers who want to take a more proactive, systematic approach to process risk management.

Instructor(s): Adam Collins and Montrell Marshall

Date(s): October 22, 2024 (Canton, MS)

Time: 8:00AM - 5:00PM

Location: MSU CAVS Extension - 153 Mississippi Parkway Canton, MS 39046

Cost: $350.00

Please contact Jill Sellers at jsellers@cavse.msstate.edu or 601-407-2746 if you have any questions.

Register

Project Management and Facilitation Skills Workshop
Oct 23, 2024

Description:

This workshop is designed to assist individuals and organizations to understand the key processes of project management, to initiate a project and to plan for resources, project risks, communication, and change control. It provides insight into the mechanics of managing and executing a project successfully through the closeout phase. It also provides a structured, planned approach to leading and facilitating teams, providing participants with practical tools to generate ideas and determine potential solutions, evaluate effectiveness of alternatives, reach consensus, and to effectively present results to key sponsors and stakeholders.

Instructor(s): Martin Konrad

Date(s): October 23-24, 2024 (Canton, MS)

Time: 8:00AM - 5:00PM

Location: MSU CAVS Extension - 153 Mississippi Parkway Canton, MS 39046

Cost: $700.00

Please contact Jill Sellers at jsellers@cavse.msstate.edu or 601-407-2746 if you have any questions.

Register

8D Problem Solving in an Industry 4.0 Environment [Non-Nissan Suppliers]
Oct 23, 2024

Course Objective:

This two-day workshop will discuss the 8D problem solving process in an Industry 4.0 environment. 8D Problem Solving is a disciplined and effective approach to solve chronic and recurring problems. 8D provides excellent guidelines to identify the root cause of the problem, implement containment actions, develop and then implement corrective and preventive actions to eliminate the problem permanently. This is accomplished by utilizing a simulated Industry 4.0 Factory and completing a hands on walk through of the 8D disciplines. Attendees will also complete an 8D long form during the simulated activity.

Course Content:
  • Industry 4.0 Overview
  • Process Mapping
  • 8 Disciplines of Problem Solving
  • 8D Long Form
  • Root Cause Analysis
  • Real-world Problem-Solving Simulation
Who Should Attend?

Engineers, supervisors, and managers who want to take a more proactive, systematic approach to problem solving.

Instructor(s): Jonathan Howell and Montrell Marshall

Date(s): October 23-24, 2024 (Canton, MS)

Time: 8:00AM - 5:00PM

Location: MSU CAVS Extension - 153 Mississippi Parkway Canton, MS 39046

Cost: $700.00

Please contact Jill Sellers at jsellers@cavse.msstate.edu or 601-407-2746 if you have any questions.

Register

SPC 101 - Statistical Process Control
Dec 05, 2024

Course Objective:

This two day workshop is structured so that participants gain a solid understanding of the use of Statistical Process Control to drive process improvement. The class is taught through a balance lecture, class discussion, class exercises, and follow-on participant projects. Specific topics include both variables and attribute control charting. Specific variables control charting tools include X-BAR and R charts, as well as X and Moving R. Specific Attribute charting techniques are also presented including P, C, and U Charts. Also process capability indexes are presented and explained (i.e., Cp, Cpk, Pp, Ppk). Throughout the class a strong emphasis is placed on how to connect SPC with root causes oriented problem solving. Key concepts are reinforced through the use of catapults to simulate the real world linkage between SPC and process improvement.

Course Content:
  • Basics of Process Variation
  • Introduction to the Control Chart
  • Using Systematic Problem Solving to Drive Improvement
  • How a Control Chart Really Works
  • Basic Measures of Process Capability
  • SPC Class Exercise using Catapults

Who Should Attend? Manufacturing Engineers, Quality Engineers, Managers, Supervisors, and other professionals.

Instructor(s): Adam Collins

Date(s): December 5-6, 2024 (Canton, MS)

Time: 8:00AM - 5:00PM

Location: MSU CAVS Extension - 153 Mississippi Parkway Canton, MS 39046

Cost: $700.00

Please contact Jill Sellers at jsellers@cavse.msstate.edu or 601-407-2746 if you have any questions.

Register

Lean Certificate
Jan 29, 2025

Course Objective:

Course objective is to develop participant skills in the recognition and elimination of Waste, and to improve Flow in their operations. Participants will apply these techniques on an approved project.

Who Should Attend? Manufacturing Engineers, Quality Engineers, Industrial Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, Engineering Managers, Plant Managers

Participant Involvement: The training will consist of 4 two-day sessions (i.e., 64 hours of class time) scheduled during a four month period. Each participant is required to implement techniques and tools on an approved project that targets substantial benefits to their respective organizations. Each participant will receive consulting support both in and outside the classroom to assist with the successful completion of their project. It is anticipated that significant work outside the classroom will be expected in order to ensure maximum results from the student project.

Instructor(s): John Moore

Date(s): Spring 2025 (January 29-30 (Communiversity), February 26-27 (Canton), March 26-27 (Communiversity), April 23-24 (Canton))

Time: 8:00AM - 4:00PM

Location: Communiversity - 7003 South Frontage Road Columbus, MS 39701 & MSU CAVS Extension - 153 Mississippi Parkway Canton, MS 39046

Cost: $2900.00

Please contact Jill Sellers at jsellers@cavse.msstate.edu or 601-407-2746 if you have any questions.

Register