The Mechanical Engineering program at WKU actively participates with local engineering industries to support their efforts to better train the students to be capable engineering professionals when they graduate. For the 2006-2007 academic year, two teams of ME seniors are working on projects for large industrial partners. One team will design and build a system to automatically calibrate on-line infrared thickness measurement unit for Logan Aluminum in Russellville. A second team will redesign a washing machine transmission system for MTD of Leitchfield to allow higher spin speeds and a higher energy efficiency rating for the washer. Another group of students performed a reliability study for SCA in Bowling Green to improve the production line operation. The ME program seeks to be relevant to our region and to produce high quality graduates who can also impact the economic quality of Kentucky