Nov 20
2024
How Advanced Print Management Systems Are Shaping the Future of Campus Innovation
In the ever-evolving landscape of higher education, innovation isn’t confined to classrooms and research labs—it extends to how universities manage their operations, resources, and technology.
At the University of Maryland’s A. James Clark School of Engineering, Terrapin Works stands as a shining example of how adopting cutting-edge solutions can transform not just processes, but outcomes.
Terrapin Works, a hub of rapid prototyping, advanced manufacturing, and digital design, operates a sprawling network of more than 200 machines across 17 campus locations. This state-of-the-art enterprise isn’t just a facility; it’s a mission-driven ecosystem enabling students, faculty, and researchers to turn ideas into reality.
But with complexity comes challenges, and the need to streamline its job request system became a pivotal moment for this operation.
The Challenge: Streamlining Complexity in Innovation
Managing job requests for hundreds of machines servicing diverse users—from students designing prototypes to researchers creating precision parts—was no small feat. Terrapin Works initially relied on a help desk ticketing system that, while functional for IT issues, fell short as a workflow solution.
The system lacked a user-friendly process for submitting, tracking, and managing requests. Email threads became the backbone of communication, resulting in inefficiencies, delays, and an inconsistent user experience. Technicians, often students themselves, faced a cumbersome workflow that detracted from their ability to focus on the innovative work at hand.