Showcase 5s

What is a showcase?

Showcases are structured presentations where I display and explain the projects and skills I have developed throughout the year. They allow me to communicate my learning, demonstrate technical abilities, and reflect on my growth.

I participate in two types of showcases each year. The first is an internal showcase held during the school day in the spring. This event is attended by staff members, and it focuses on sharing progress, receiving feedback, and practicing professional communication in a more familiar environment.

The second is an external spring showcase, which is open to people outside the school, such as family members, community members, and potential employers. In this setting, I present my completed projects and highlight the skills I have gained over the year. This showcase emphasizes professionalism, presentation skills, and the ability to clearly explain technical work to a broader audience.

Together, these showcases help me build confidence, improve my communication skills, and demonstrate my readiness for future academic and career opportunities.

Modula VLM

A recent addition to the AM Hub campus is the Modula Vertical Lift Module (VLM), an advanced automated storage and organization system donated by Modula. This equipment provides an opportunity to learn about modern industrial storage solutions and how automation is used to improve efficiency and organization in manufacturing and technical environments.

The Modula VLM is a large-scale storage system designed with 12 internal trays that can store tools, parts, and materials in a highly organized and space-efficient manner. The system is operated through a tablet-based interface, allowing users to call and return trays with simple commands. Each tray is capable of holding significant weight, enabling the system to safely manage thousands of pounds of stored material.

Although we have not yet had full hands-on use of the system, we have begun learning the basic concepts behind its operation, including how tray retrieval and storage commands function within the control interface. This early exposure is helping us understand how automated storage systems are used in industry settings.

Looking forward, there is strong potential to integrate data systems with the Modula VLM. This could include digital tracking of stored items, usage history, and automated inventory management. Incorporating these data systems would enhance organization, improve efficiency, and provide real-time insight into tool and material usage within our lab environment.

Toolbox Organization and Future Integration with Modula VLM

Right now, our focus within the AM Hub has been on the organization and standardization of our toolboxes. We have developed and refined these toolboxes to a high level of organization, ensuring that every tool has a designated place and that each set is consistent, efficient, and easy to maintain. This work has allowed us to fully apply 5S principles in a practical setting and create a reliable system that supports daily use in the lab.

At this stage, our toolboxes serve as the primary system we are showcasing, demonstrating our ability to implement strong organizational standards and maintain consistency across multiple tool sets. While we are not yet actively using the Modula Vertical Lift Module (VLM) for full operations, it represents the next phase of our development.

Moving forward, we plan to begin collecting data based on our toolbox systems. This will include tracking tool usage, organization efficiency, and identifying opportunities for improvement. The goal is to use this data to better understand workflow patterns and prepare for integration with larger systems like the Modula VLM.

As we take these next steps, the Modula system will serve as an opportunity to expand beyond manual organization and into automated storage and data-driven inventory management, building on the foundation we have established with our toolboxes

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