This past academic year, a capstone team of senior students known as "The SnoHuskies" embarked on a mission to transform Snohomish County's document management processes. Their project, a collaboration with the county's Enterprise Scanning Center, showcases the power of applying ISE principles to real-world challenges.

The SnoHuskies Team and colleagues from Snohomish County: Melodie McCann (Snohomish County), Peter Albrecht, Carson Wang, Faliha Amjad, Jyunghyun Noh, José Matthews (Snohomish County).

The team, consisting of Peter Albrecht, Faliha Amjad, Jyunghyun Noh, and Carson Wang, faced a complex task: increase in-house scanning throughput without compromising document quality or employee satisfaction. With their ISE toolkit and fresh perspectives, they dove into the intricacies of the county's document scanning operations.

"We approached this project as a holistic system," explains team member Faliha Amjad. "It wasn't just about speeding up scanning. We had to consider workflow, employee ergonomics, and quality control simultaneously."

Their solutions demonstrate the breadth of ISE applications. A new color-coded system for workflow management brought visual clarity to the process. The reorganization of the "Box Island" improved project tracking, reducing box retrieval time by an impressive 33%. Perhaps most notably, the implementation of a comprehensive "Living Document" for real-time project status updates revolutionized communication within the department.

José Matthews, Enterprise Data Management Division Manager in IT at Snohomish County, is thrilled with the results. "The SnoHuskies' solutions have had an immediate impact. We've seen a 60% decrease in error rates for certain scanning projects. This level of improvement is remarkable."

The project's success highlights the symbiotic relationship between academia and government agencies. Professor Patty Buchanan, faculty advisor for the ISE Capstone Program, emphasizes this point: "Our students gain invaluable experience tackling complex, real-world problems. In turn, our community partners benefit from fresh perspectives and cutting-edge ISE methodologies."

The new box island, an innovation to streamline the scanning processes.

The impact of the SnoHuskies' work extends beyond improved efficiency. Their solutions are projected to save Snohomish County approximately $40,785 annually. This financial benefit underscores the tangible value that ISE principles can bring to public sector operations.

Viggo Forde, Director of IT/CIO at Snohomish County, sees this project as part of a larger trend. "Our multi-year partnership with the University of Washington continues to deliver innovative solutions that benefit our county operations and, ultimately, our residents," he notes. "It's a testament to the power of combining academic expertise with practical challenges."

For the students, this project was more than just a capstone—it was a bridge to their future careers. They grappled with real constraints, navigated stakeholder expectations, and saw firsthand how their solutions impacted daily operations. "We're proud that our work will have a lasting impact on the county's operations and ultimately benefit the community," Amjad reflects.

The success of the Snohomish County project exemplifies ISE's commitment to practical, impactful education. These students demonstrated how ISE principles can be applied to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance quality across various sectors, including government operations.