| The primary purpose for the study was to produce a curriculum model for manufacturing programs dealing with Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM). Four year Engineering Technology (ET) and Industrial Technology (IT) manufacturing programs were targeted as the population.;A review of related literature identified a lack of research on the topic. There was strong support made for the future growth of CIM and the need for education to train for the technologies related to it.;In order to accomplish the primary purpose, two separate studies were conducted. In Study One, a total of 37 degree plans from four-year ET and IT manufacturing programs were analyzed and consolidated. Thirteen content areas were developed along with more specific topic areas within those content areas (e.g., Statistical Quality Control). Generic descriptions were written for each topic area to identify composition. Rank lists were generated of the overall set of topic areas, content areas, and of topics within content areas.;Study Two used a Delphi panel of 18 industrialists knowledgeable of CIM to generate and rank future competencies for a manufacturing technologist. The panel was selected from names provided by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and were from a wide variety of companies. The final list of 149 competencies were ranked overall, ranked within content areas, and content areas ranked.;Comparisons were made between the current Engineering Technology and Industrial Technology programs and the competencies. These comparisons were made according to overall ranked lists, content area ranks, and ranks of competencies versus topic areas within content areas. Included in the 25 recommendations made were: a reduction in emphasis on material processing, an increase in communication skills, an increase in telecommunications and microprocessor skills, an emphasis on system integration, an increase in team organization skills, an increase in attention on a student's ability to actively listen, and an increased emphasis on developing strong work ethics. |
