Short answer: The Enterprise program is an ongoing development in the College of Engineering here at Michigan Tech. There are ten to twenty enterprises in total, generally with at least one enterprise for each engineering discipline. The Enterprise program has created a great way to obtain co-op skills without ever going on one.

The long answer is more or less found here.

What is CPM?

CPM, or Consumer Product Manufacturing, is one of several enterprises at MTU. We've gained a reputation as a chemical/biomedical engineering enterprise, but we would ideally like to have students of every major.

Our Keweenaw Brewing Company sponsored enterprise is organized to develop a business plan for a new consumer product every year or so. This entails researching, developing, designing, producing, and learning to market our product. Our enterprise is currently organized into six teams, each tackling a portion of our goal.

Yeah, but what do the individual people in CPM do?

Everyone in CPM becomes a member of one (or two or three, if they prefer) teams to work on the project. Each team has a set of objectives to complete, and each student chooses some of these. For more specific examples, check out what some CPM members had to say in our Personal Testimonies section.

I'm a chemical engineering major. Do I have to do chemical engineering work?

No! We at CPM want you to explore the business world, and this means setting objectives that interest you. Of course, if you want to do work that directly correlates with your major, that's an option, too. However, all entering CPM members have the same options available, varying from laboratory testing to communications to environmental research to marketing to accounting.

Is it a lot of work?

While CPM students typically register for one or two credits, the course load is not the same as one or two credits worth of lecture. Typical 1-credit CPM members will find themselves attending one to two hours of meetings each week and working on the project an additional one to three hours a week.

I heard there's a lot of writing.

As would be the case in co-ops and internships, we expect written monthly updates from all members of CPM. You can expect to write four such reports each semester you're in CPM, but they are meant to be brief (one to two page) memos.

This inter-enterprise communication is just another way to improve your communications skills!

OK, so what's in it for me?

In general, the Enterprise program is aimed at developing each undergraduate student's entrepreneurial skills, and at improving work skills, without having to go away on a co-op or internship. Besides learning how to spell "entrepreneurial", Enterprise students can expect to

Gain skills employers are looking for
Obtain hands-on experience in just about any aspect of the business world
Improve oral and written communication skills
Gain experience working in small teams
Develop skills for working in a small business environment
Acquire new opportunities to work with industry
Obtain more leadership experience
Work with people of different disciplines

Leadership experience - how do I get some of that?

There are plenty of ways to be a leader in CPM. We elect a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer, who make up the executive council. Add in team leaders for each of our six teams and you have the executive board. If lots of people are looking for leadership, we allow co-team leaders as well.

But isn't the Enterprise program just for engineers?

Not at all! The biggest reason for the Enterprise program is to create multidisciplinary work for engineers and non-engineers alike. While most enterprises only have engineers, you can bet they're hurting for business and technical communications majors. We want CPM to be for absolutely anyone interested in consumer products, from physics majors to engineering majors back to humanities majors.

I heard you could only take enterprise work as senior design.

Absolutely false. The Enterprise program was designed to be a three-year journey, which is why there are at least six semesters of enterprise work courses you can schedule. If you'd like to obtain a concentration in Enterprise (if you're an engineering major) or an Enterprise minor (regardless what of major you are), it will require at least two years in the program.

As it turns out, by earning an Enterprise concentration or minor, you earn one or more credits' worth of senior design. This varies by major, though. We have the information for biomedical and chemical engineers at our Curriculum page.

So what if I want to take it for senior design?

You can! Amid the class goals we develop each semester are a list of more involved projects, suitable for senior design. All CPM students earning credit for senior design will be required to work on one of these extra projects. Be sure to check with your advisor to make sure you are enrolled in the proper courses for senior design.

What if I don't want to take it for senior design?

That's perfectly fine. Working with CPM can earn you engineering or technical elective credits for just about any major. And there are always free electives.

So the Enterprise program is a three-year journey? Can I take it as a freshman?

Yes, MTU is now offering a freshman level enterprise class. Come to our regular class meetings, and we will help get you started.

Ok, I'm sold. What do I do to join?

During registration, enroll in section 8 of one of the following courses:

ENT2950 or ENT2960 (for sophomores)
ENT3950 or ENT3960 (for juniors)
ENT4950 or ENT4960 (for seniors)

When are the class meetings?

CPM holds a general class meeting at 4:00 pm every Thursday in Chemical Sciences 211. The first meeting will be there on January 18th, 2007

Individual team meetings vary and are not scheduled until after the start of the semester.

What if I have a course conflict?

We're flexible people, and if you really want to join CPM, we really, really want you to join CPM! Please contact our advisor, Dr. Tony Rogers, to let him know. He'll help create a plan for your CPM work for the semester.

What if I want to join but don't want the college credit?

That's okay, too! Just stop on by to our first general meeting of the semester, and let Dr. Rogers know your plans. That's right, you can still participate in our project without having to shell out the tuition money.

I heard you have an office. Can I see it?

Sure, why not? Click here to access the "contact us" page and ask one of the class officers. We'll give you the grand tour of our office and lab.

Why do you randomly capitalize the word "enterprise"?

The word "enterprise" in lowercase refers to the different enterprises on campus, while the capitalized "Enterprise" refers to the program at large. We need observant people like you to join CPM.

Were all these questions really frequently asked?

Join CPM and find out.

What if I have more questions?

If you have more questions, please contact Dr. Tony Rogers. He's the man with all the answers. And who knows, maybe you'll add to this FAQ!