IE 5617 · Lean Concepts and Applications
Graduate Teaching Assistant · Northeastern University · 2023, 2025, 2026
Course Overview
Course: IE 5617 — Lean Concepts and Applications (Undergraduate & Graduate)
Role: Graduate Teaching Assistant
Institution: Northeastern University, Dept. of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering
Terms: Summer I 2023 (Prof. Hugh McManus, 45 students) · Summer II 2023 (Prof. Andrei Guschin, 46 students) · Summer I 2025 (Prof. Hugh McManus, 20 students) · Summer II 2026 (Prof. Andrei Guschin, 22 students)
This course covers lean manufacturing principles, value stream mapping (VSM), waste identification, process improvement, and quality tools. Students apply lean thinking to real-world industrial and service contexts.
Responsibilities
- Taught the Process Control and Six Sigma Basics module and the Quality Tools and Topics module
- Taught recitation sections, including the ANOVA module
- Developed new instructional materials and slides
- Facilitated in-class exercises and supported VSM workshops
- Held regular office hours; provided detailed written feedback on assignments and projects
- Graded homework, projects, and exams
Student ranking of class sessions
At the end of Summer I 2025, Prof. McManus asked students to rank every class session in the course. The two sessions I taught placed 3rd and 7th out of 17, scoring 4.81 and 4.67 on a 5-point scale.
| Session I taught | Score | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Process Control / Six Sigma Basics | 4.81 | 3rd of 17 |
| Quality Tools & Topics | 4.67 | 7th of 17 |
What makes this useful rather than merely flattering is the comparison built into it. Prof. McManus has taught this course for years and runs the same ranking every term, so the baseline is his own delivery of the same sessions — and he wrote that the classes I taught “came out higher than when I do them.”
Selected Student Feedback (Summer 2025)
“You’ve been a great TA for us. You are easily approachable and patient whenever we had doubts.”
“Even when we didn’t directly ask for your help, you were helping us make a better VSM, process, or helping us look at a problem in a different way.”
“Your communication is articulate and you have a natural warmth that makes us feel comfortable. It’s clear that you care about teaching and helping us understand.”
Reflection
Prof. McManus noted that my student evaluation scores were above his historical average for this course — a benchmark that matters because he systematically tracks evaluations across terms. This course deepened my interest in curriculum development: working alongside Prof. McManus to update materials showed me how much thought goes into designing learning experiences that are both rigorous and accessible.