As a student organization, SME aims to provide tours to local and regional manufacturing facilities, local and regional industry speakers, excellent networking opportunities with local and regional companies, and a laid-back, fun way to meet with engineering classmates.
UW-Stout's Society of Manufacturing Engineer's most recent event was touring the Leinenkugel's Brewery in Chippewa Falls, WI. SME typically makes the trip to the brewery once a year to tour the brewing and bottling facilities, as well as sample some Leinenkugel's Beer.
This picture was taken inside the Leinenkugel's Brewery, as the tour guide explains how flavors are added to the beer to give it that signature taste.
This diagram illustrates every step of the brewing process, which we were able to see through out the tour.
To get to the brewing and bottling facility from the Leinie's lodge, where the tour starts, you have to walk across Duncan Creek and head to the other side of the Leinenkugel campus which has several beautiful buildings on it.
Inside the bottling facility, we got to learn how beer is taken from mass quantities, then put into single bottles and boxed up for shipment anywhere across the United States.
SME's first tour of 2021 was to Kwik Trip's "Bread and Bun" and "Sweets" facility's in Lacrosse, Wisconsin. This tour was put on by the local SME senior chapter and they were kind enough to invite our student chapter to tour Kwik Trips world class manufacturing facilities with them.
SME has toured the Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery in the past. Ellsworth Creamery is a renowned supplier of wholesale cheese and cheese curds. From classic award-winning artisan cheese, you will find that the possibilities are endless in their Wisconsin dairy shop.
SME has also toured Phillips-Medisize Metal Injection Molding site. Phillips-Medisize is a 30,000 square foot facility located right here in Menomonie, WI. In this plant they manufacture high precision stainless steel components using state-of-the-art techniques.
In the past, SME has toured Ashley Furniture which is located in Arcadia Wisconsin.
