Rensselaer Notables - Edward Arnheiter

Edward D. Arnheiter, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Lally School of Management and Technology

Several years ago, Rensselaer Professor Ed Arnheiter was asked by an M.B.A. student to serve as his advisor for an independent study. The student worked at Loctite in Rocky Hill. Professor Arnheiter suggested that the two collaborate on some research about Loctite, and perhaps co-author a business case study about the company. Loctite had just gone through a successful “Lean transformation” in one of its business units, and Dr. Arnheiter felt the story would make valuable, practical reading for his management students. It was a win-win situation for both; the student was getting credit for his CAPSTONE project, and Professor Arnheiter was creating exciting new teaching material that he could incorporate into his classes. “Loctite Corporation” was born, and was subsequently published through the Richard Ivey School of Business, the 2nd largest case publishing house in the world. The case became so popular that it is now listed through Harvard Business School Publishing. http://www.harvardbusinessonline.org/b02/en/common/item_detail.jhtml?id=902D19&referral=2340

According to Dr. Arnheiter, “Using the case method to facilitate learning is nothing new in business schools. However, at most business schools the faculties adopt case studies written and published by someone else, oftentimes Harvard faculty. I wanted to create my own case studies, based on companies that my students could relate to, and indeed may even have done business with. I also discovered a lack of case studies out there that addressed Lean management – which is a major part of our expertise and focus in the Hartford Department of the Lally School of Management and Technology, and is an area in which much of my research interest lies.”

Recently, Professor Arnheiter completed a business case study about a Singaporean company operating as a joint venture between Pratt & Whitney Aircraft and Singapore Airlines. As part of the field research for the case, he traveled to Singapore twice, collecting data and interviewing many of the local managers. This latest case chronicles another turnaround made possible through Lean management, and describes the company’s reversal of fortune. The Ivey School has agreed to publish this case study as well.

Dr. Arnheiter plans to use both the Loctite and Singaporean case studies in his Lean Strategies course this fall. He also feels that the Singaporean case would make a nice addition to the Rensselaer Fellows Program, a class slated to make a trip to Singapore. “It would be great if the students could first cover the case in class in Hartford, digest it, analyze it, discuss it, and then actually go the plant in Singapore and see firsthand what they have been reading about. This, to me, is a very exciting and great way to learn,” he said.

Authoring case studies and using them in class, his examples of local and global companies in his teaching, an experienced academic and international business traveler, and a professor who enjoys collaborating with his students, all found in a very active member of the Rensselaer faculty…Dr. Ed Arnheiter. What are you waiting for? Enroll in a class with Professor Arnheiter today! http://www.ewp.rpi.edu/hartford/%7Earnheite/