Why Join CME
The Center for Manufacturing Excellence is a launchpad for students to step onto the factory floor or into the boardroom with the skills and confidence to make an immediate impact.
The Center for Manufacturing Excellence (CME) offers more than just a credential — it’s an experience that sets you apart.
Built for students who want to do more with their degree, CME blends hands-on learning, real-world application, and a culture of leadership into every part of the program.
Here's how CME equips students to lead, solve, build, and grow — in college and beyond.
Real-World Readiness
Learning happens in the classroom — but also on the factory floor. CME’s approach to education is grounded in experience, from the James G. Vaughan Factory Floor and Max R. Miller Maker Space to on-site continuous improvement projects with manufacturing partners across Mississippi and beyond.
In experiential learning courses, students work in teams to identify problems, gather data, and present solutions to plant leadership. These opportunities don’t just teach — they challenge, engage, and prepare students to step into real roles with real responsibility.
Designed for the Future of Manufacturing
Manufacturing today is high-tech, global, and constantly evolving — and CME is designed to meet that challenge. Our interdisciplinary curriculum blends business, accountancy, and engineering with lean systems thinking, communication, and continuous improvement.
This isn’t a one-size-fits-all education. It’s a program tailored to the needs of students and the realities of industry. And with growing opportunities like study abroad and the new CME endorsement program for non-cohort students, we’re expanding access and impact across campus and beyond.
Unparalleled Job Placement
CME graduates don’t just find jobs — they start careers. With a job placement rate that consistently approaches 100%, our alumni move directly into roles in engineering, operations, logistics, and leadership. The reason is simple: they’re ready. By the time you graduate, you’ll have internship or co-op experience, real client-facing project work, and a résumé that reflects the demands of the modern manufacturing workplace.
Servant Leadership in Action
CME’s approach to leadership is grounded in service — a core value that shapes both how students learn and how they lead. Through team-based projects, advisory boards, and student-led initiatives, you’ll grow as a leader by lifting others, listening actively, and collaborating with integrity.
Faculty and staff model this principle daily, offering mentorship and guidance that go beyond coursework. You’ll learn how to lead not just with confidence, but with humility, accountability, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
“At CME, we don’t just talk about servant leadership — we live it. It shows in how students treat each other, how they approach group work, and how they support their peers. It’s about being responsible for more than yourself and contributing to something bigger.” —Dr. Scott Kilpatrick, Executive Director, CME