Continuing Professional Development of Engineering and Technology Adult Professional Learners

Mitchell L Springer; Gary R. Bertoline; Mark T Schuver

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Conference: 2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Publication Date: June 23, 2013
Start Date: June 23, 2013
End Date: June 26, 2013
ISSN: 2153-5965
Conference Session: Distance Education and Engineering Workforce Professional Development
Tagged Division: Continuing Professional Development
Page Count: 8
Page Numbers: 23.336.1 - 23.336.8
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--19350
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/19350
Download Count: 305

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Paper Authors

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Mitchell L Springer PMP, SPHR, SHRM-SCP Purdue University, West Lafayette

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Dr. Springer currently serves as the Executive Director of the Purdue University College of Technology, Academic Center for Professional Studies in Technology and Applied Research (ProSTAR) and College of Technology Operations and Strategic Initiatives, located in West Lafayette, Indiana. He possesses over 30 years of theoretical and industry-based practical experience from four disciplines: Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, Program Management and Human Resources. He sits on many university and community boards and advisory committees. Dr. Springer is internationally recognized, has authored numerous books and articles, and lectured on software development methodologies, management practices and program management. Dr. Springer received his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Purdue University, his MBA and Doctorate in Adult and Community Education with a Cognate in Executive Development from Ball State University. He is certified as both a Project Management Professional (PMP) and a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).

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Gary R. Bertoline Purdue University, West Lafayette

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Mark T Schuver Purdue University, West Lafayette

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Mark Schuver is the Director for the Center for Professional Studies in Technology and Applied Research (ProSTAR) in the College of Technology at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. He is responsible for the administration/operations of the Center with Program Management oversight of the Weekend Master’s Degree, the Rolls-Royce Master’s Degree and the Building Construction Management Master’s Degree for working professionals in the College of Technology. Prior to joining Purdue in 2002, Mark was employed by Caterpillar, Inc for 35 years with assignments in Product Design, Research and Development, Supplier Management, Quality Management, Logistics Management and various leadership positions. He holds an Associate Degree in Drafting Technology from North Iowa Area Community College (1967), a BS in Business Administration (1990) and MS in Management (1992) from Indiana Wesleyan University.

Mark is a member of the American Society for Engineering Education and serves on the Executive Board of the Continuing Professional Development Division. He is also a member of College/Industry Partnerships, Engineering Technology and Graduate Studies Divisions of ASEE. Mark is a member of the National Collaborative Task Force for Engineering Education Reform and is a Lifetime Certified Purchasing Manager with the Institute of Supply Management (formerly NAPM).

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Abstract

Technologist and Engineer Role Mapping to Product Life Cycle Model Phases: A Natural DerivationIn a recent National study, predominate roles and titles assigned to technologists and engineeringBachelor of Science graduates were reported. The study received responses from nearly 200business and industry technology-oriented companies. The study reflected that while there wereroles that were assigned to both; the roles of design engineer, senior engineer and engineer werepredominately assigned to engineering graduates. This, while the roles of engineeringtechnologist, technologist, engineering technician and technician were predominantly reservedfor technologists; i.e., BS Engineering Technology (BSET) graduates.The findings of this study validate the experience of many in business and industry. The naturalderivation of this previous study is to enhance our understanding of the identified roles for each;the technologist and the engineer.This paper maps the predominately defined roles of the technologist (BSET) and the engineer(BSEng) to the generally accepted product life cycle model phases; concept exploration,demonstration and validation, full scale development, production and deployment, and,operations and support. This mapping heightens our awareness and better allows bothcommunities to appreciate the natural roles assigned to each graduate cohort.In the final analysis, it can readily be argued technology graduates are in fact applied engineers.While it may be questionable to argue whether they should be called engineers or not, their roleis clearly defined throughout the product life cycle model. We should focus on moving forwardin a positive manner to integrate our educational foundations to incorporate these much needed,required and highly utilized individuals. In the final analysis, two questions are offered as areasfor future thought, research and development:  Is Technology a discipline in and of itself? If so, then its body of knowledge may reside in the systems integration engineering domain; and has yet to be uniquely defined.  Should technology exist as an independent, stand-alone unit? Conceivably, without much visualization, tremendous synergy would come from a unified engineering and technology curricular approach where a basic underlying agreement resides in the research, design, development, test and integration product life cycle model understanding. In this manner, technology would be provided with an overlap of engineering knowledge and then the subsequent applied knowledge required to perform in their respective life cycle phases of the product life cycle model. Technologist and Engineering Roles Mapping to Product Life Cycle Phases Demonstration and Production and Operations and Concept Exploration Full Scale Development Validation Deployment Support Functional and Concept Analysis Concept Development Preliminary Design Detail Design Test and Evaluation Manufacturing and Systems Engineer Operations Research Engineer Fielding and Design Engineer On-Going Support Senior Engineer Engineer Technician and Engineering Technician and Engineering Technician Technician Technologists and Engineering TechnologistsFigure 1.0 – Technologist and Engineering Roles Mapping to Product Life Cycle Phases

Citation
Format

Springer, M. L., & Bertoline, G. R., & Schuver, M. T. (2013, June), Continuing Professional Development of Engineering and Technology Adult Professional Learners Paper presented at 2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Atlanta, Georgia. 10.18260/1-2--19350

TY  - CPAPER
AB  -            Technologist and Engineer Role Mapping to Product Life Cycle                        Model Phases: A Natural DerivationIn a recent National study, predominate roles and titles assigned to technologists and engineeringBachelor of Science graduates were reported. The study received responses from nearly 200business and industry technology-oriented companies. The study reflected that while there wereroles that were assigned to both; the roles of design engineer, senior engineer and engineer werepredominately assigned to engineering graduates. This, while the roles of engineeringtechnologist, technologist, engineering technician and technician were predominantly reservedfor technologists; i.e., BS Engineering Technology (BSET) graduates.The findings of this study validate the experience of many in business and industry. The naturalderivation of this previous study is to enhance our understanding of the identified roles for each;the technologist and the engineer.This paper maps the predominately defined roles of the technologist (BSET) and the engineer(BSEng) to the generally accepted product life cycle model phases; concept exploration,demonstration and validation, full scale development, production and deployment, and,operations and support. This mapping heightens our awareness and better allows bothcommunities to appreciate the natural roles assigned to each graduate cohort.In the final analysis, it can readily be argued technology graduates are in fact applied engineers.While it may be questionable to argue whether they should be called engineers or not, their roleis clearly defined throughout the product life cycle model. We should focus on moving forwardin a positive manner to integrate our educational foundations to incorporate these much needed,required and highly utilized individuals. In the final analysis, two questions are offered as areasfor future thought, research and development:           Is Technology a discipline in and of itself? If so, then its body of knowledge may            reside in the systems integration engineering domain; and has yet to be uniquely            defined.           Should technology exist as an independent, stand-alone unit? Conceivably, without            much visualization, tremendous synergy would come from a unified engineering and            technology curricular approach where a basic underlying agreement resides in the            research, design, development, test and integration product life cycle model            understanding. In this manner, technology would be provided with an overlap of            engineering knowledge and then the subsequent applied knowledge required to            perform in their respective life cycle phases of the product life cycle model.                                   Technologist and Engineering Roles Mapping                                           to Product Life Cycle Phases                               Demonstration and                                                   Production and              Operations and  Concept Exploration                                             Full Scale Development                                  Validation                                                        Deployment                    Support    Functional and Concept           Analysis                         Concept Development                                                              Preliminary Design                                                                   Detail Design                                                                               Test and                                                                              Evaluation                                                                                               Manufacturing and                           Systems Engineer                                                       Operations             Research Engineer                                                                                             Fielding and                                          Design Engineer                                                                On-Going Support                                            Senior Engineer                                                                      Engineer                             Technician and Engineering                                Technician and Engineering Technician                                     Technician                                                                                                  Technologists and Engineering TechnologistsFigure 1.0 – Technologist and Engineering Roles Mapping to Product Life Cycle Phases
AU  - Mitchell L Springer PMP, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
AU  - Gary R. Bertoline
AU  - Mark T Schuver
CY  - Atlanta, Georgia
DA  - 2013/06/23
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Continuing Professional Development of Engineering and Technology Adult Professional Learners
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/19350
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--19350
ER  -