Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Technology Program: a Program that Prepares Graduates for Today’s Manufacturing Industry

Abstract

Abstract This paper details the development process of a new Advanced Manufacturing concentration within mechanical engineering technology program at a college in a College in the Northeastern Region of the United States. The development and implementation process of this program is supported by the department of education federal fund as part of Title III, Part F, HSI-STEM and Articulation grant (Award#P031C160021). Today, manufacturing has high demand in aeronautical and other technical fields for a wide range of tasks, such as, Computer Numerical Control machining, computer-aided design & 3D prototyping, composite structural design & repair, robotics, and unman aerial vehicles (UAV) to name a few. With that in mind, this program is designed to provide students with the practical hands-on manufacturing skills in aeronautical and related technical fields. Graduates of this program will acquire knowledge in the area of Computer-Aided Design and 3D Printing, Computer-Aided Manufacturing and Prismatic Machining, Composite Manufacturing and repair process, CATIA Composite Product Design, UAV and its application for a wide range of uses (business, scientific, and security). Students in this field are required to take courses in basic engineering sciences and application (applied statics & strength of materials, applied thermos-fluid, and mechanical testing) to further enhance their understanding in aeronautical manufacturing process and design. Four credit hours of technical elective course work provide students with opportunities to choose from elective courses to specialize in the area of 3D prototyping, composite inspection and repair, UAV and its application. To complete this program, students are required to take 3 credit hours of senior manufacturing capstone project. The goal of the engineering and technologies department for developing this program is to provide our students with hands-on and manufacturing skills that are current with today’s industry trend. The main objective is to provide students with strong foundation in composite manufacturing, computer-aided manufacturing & 3D printing, Computer Numerical Control manufacturing, UAV construction and application as well as to provide them with knowledge, experience and the ability to evaluate these approaches for use in a given situation. The development, program’s concentrations, and implementation process of Advanced Manufacturing including program’s evaluation survey by manufacturing industry will be discussed in detail at ASEE Annual Conference.