Conference Session

Educational Research and Methods Division Poster Session

Collection

2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Brittany Bradford, Rice University; Margaret E. Beier; Michael Wolf, Rice University; Megan McSpedon, Rice University; Ann Saterbak, Duke University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

single session [8], rather than spacing out their learning. Hora and Oleson [9]found in a qualitative study that almost half of STEM students reported “cramming” for theirexams, meaning they began studying for an exam sometime from a few days before the exam tothe night before it.In terms of STEM-specific studying requirements, STEM as a discipline is distinct in many waysfrom other college majors. It involves scientific inquiry, problem-solving (often collaboratively),creativity, and a broad understanding of interdisciplinary concepts and how they relate to eachother [10]. In particular, math is known to be more cognitively challenging than many othertraditional academic subjects [11] and requires effective planning for success, not just

Conference Session

Engineering Ethics Division - WIP Poster Session

Collection

2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Rockwell Franklin Clancy III, University of Michigan-Shanghai Jiao Tong Joint Institute; Charlemagne Manuel

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Ethics

likely to enroll in online education programs havedifficulties effectively using the resources these programs provide.[17], [18] Second, materialscurrently hosted online are primarily beneficial to educators rather than students, since they couldbe difficult to navigate unless one knows what one is looking for (Fig. 1), and most materialsconsist in lesson plans, case studies, and videos for use in instructor-led courses (Fig. 2). Third,their use requires substantial preparation time and effort on the part of instructors (Fig. 3). Bycontrast, the web modules described here are all inclusive: They can be used anytime, anywhereby students, without preparation on the part of instructors.Fig. 1 Navigating resources at the OEC[14]Fig. 2 A lesson plan

Conference Session

Liberal Education/Engineering & Society Division Poster Session

Collection

2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kelly Ann Cave, Colorado State University; Zinta S. Byrne, Colorado State University; Thomas J. Siller, Colorado State University; Anthony A. Maciejewski, Colorado State University

Tagged Divisions

Liberal Education/Engineering & Society

science and engineering programs is not a new concept.According to the review done by Shuman, Besterfield-Sacre, and McGourty, there isencouraging evidence to suggest that the Accrediting Board for Engineering and Technology(ABET) professional skills can be taught effectively [5]. Specifically, these authors highlight theimportance of incorporating real-world experiences into the engineering curriculum as the mosteffective way to integrate both professional and technical skill development into acomprehensive educational experience [5]. Though informative, students’ attitudes regardingthese methods are essential to understand as theory suggests attitudes are immediate precursorsto actual behaviors (i.e., theory of planned behavior) [6]. To date

Conference Session

Manufacturing Division Technical Session 6

Collection

2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Richard Chiou, Drexel University; Carlos Michael Ruiz, Drexel University; Michael G. Mauk, Drexel University; M. Eric Carr, Drexel University; Tzu-Liang Bill Tseng, University of Texas, El Paso

Tagged Divisions

Manufacturing

exposing next generation manufacturing technologies. Presentation #1 Opening remark: US Next Generation ManufacturingOrganizer: Richard Chiou, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Engineering Technology,College of Engineering, Drexel UniversityAbstract: Insights from outside of the manufacturing industry will be explored in the workshopfrom traditional manufacturing to factory planning and utilization, quality assurance and evenresearch and development. Indeed, industrial manufacturers can best serve their customers (andthemselves) by designing tools and equipment that improve the efficiency, costs, and performanceof factories and other capital projects. Whether enhancing their or their customers

Conference Session

Entrepreneurship & Engineering Innovation Division Technical Session 5

Collection

2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sandra Furnbach Clavijo P.E., Stevens Institute of Technology (School of Engineering and Science); Kishore V. Pochiraju, Stevens Institute of Technology (School of Engineering and Science)

Tagged Divisions

Entrepreneurship & Engineering Innovation

teamwork dynamic in our first-year experiences. It is unclear exactly whatenables the second semester classes to have higher averages than the first semester courses, sinceall three courses have different subject matter, different styles of projects and different sets ofinstructors. But an upward trend of better teamwork satisfaction is hopeful. Moving forwardwe want to try to isolate a few of the sections of ED1 and ED2 and let students choose teamswith no restrictions and compare to the other sections. A pilot study in Fall 2019 to Spring 2020has been planned. Other plans include looking at the effect gender has on teaming as this yearwe used CATME team maker to ensure woman and underrepresented minorities are notoutnumbered on project

Conference Session

SED Technical Session: Applications

Collection

2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Georgios Georgalis, Purdue University-Main Campus, West Lafayette (College of Engineering); Karen Marais, Purdue University-Main Campus, West Lafayette (College of Engineering)

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Systems Engineering

failures [13]. Of the 21 causes, we consider in this work the 10 that apply to studentprojects, as shown in Table 1. Table 1: Common causes of systems engineering failures. Adapted from [13]. Systems engineering failure causesFailed to consider Actor(s) in the organization failed to consider an aspect in the system design. In many cases,design aspect this causal action describes a design flaw, such as a single-point failure or component compatibility.Used inadequate Actor(s) in the organization used inadequate justification for a decision.justificationFailed to form a Actor(s) in the organization failed to form a contingency plan to implement if an

Conference Session

NSF Grantees Poster Session

Collection

2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Merredith D. Portsmore, Tufts University; Adam V. Maltese, Indiana University; Karen Miel, Tufts University; Kelli Paul, Indiana University

Tagged Topics

NSF Grantees Poster Session

contemplating career interestsand options [34], [35]; in this study, 82% of participants readily named at least one career ofinterest to them and several participants also identified contingency career plans. This analysisidentified a group of students (66% of our sample) who have currently identified a career ofinterest other than engineering yet are open to an engineering career. We wish to keepengineering as a career as a possible future for these students. This work suggests that it may befruitful for engineering educators to identify ways in which engineering activities intersect withstudents’ interests, thereby helping engineering study and careers to resonate with these students. 3. Classroom video dataThe video data collection for the project

Conference Session

Track: Pre-college - Technical Session 2

Collection

2019 CoNECD - The Collaborative Network for Engineering and Computing Diversity

Authors

Lauren A. Griggs, Virginia Commonwealth University; Briana Nicole James, Virginia Commonwealth University

Tagged Topics

Diversity, Pre-College

to PeersDESIGN PROJECT IMPACT | VIDEO TESTIMONIALS SURVEYExample Questions ● Have you been active in LSAMP after your first semester of freshman year? ● Have you participated in any undergraduate research opportunities or engaged in any project innovation? ● To those who said yes above...Did participation in the LSAMP STP play a role in your decision to to pursue undergraduate research? ● Do you feel that the Design Challenge prepared you for your undergraduate discipline? ● Are you interested in attending graduate/professional school? ● Have you applied to graduate/professional school? SURVEY RESULTSWere you aware of undergraduate If yes, did you plan to seek anresearch

Conference Session

PSW Section Meeting Papers - Disregard start and end time - for online paper access only

Collection

2019 Pacific Southwest Section Meeting

Authors

Pejman Akbari, California State Polytechnic University in Pomona ; Brad Kevin Thomas, Electro Mechanical Systems Engineering Technology; Christopher John Tait, Cal Poly Pomona; Colby Stark

Tagged Topics

Pacific Southwest Section Meeting Paper Submissions

University in Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona), aimed atdeveloping a small-scale test bed facility to support ongoing research on the subject of novelengines, as well as enhancing academic education. The project received support from a localindustrial company (Weistec Engineering) and the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology. Thepaper reports how the idea was conceived from design concept to manifestation of a demonstratorengine through detailed planning and significant team efforts. The paper describes the planningand implementation process including required course development, securing funding for theresearch, and student involvements in the design process, construction and assembly, initialtesting, lessons learned, and plans for future work. The

Conference Session

PSW Section Meeting Papers - Disregard start and end time - for online paper access only

Collection

2019 Pacific Southwest Section Meeting

Authors

Xiaorong Zhang, San Francisco State University; Ricardo Jesus Colin, San Francisco State University; Alex David, San Francisco State University; Amelito G Enriquez, Canada College; Wenshen Pong P.E., San Francisco State University; Zhaoshuo Jiang P.E., San Francisco State University; Cheng Chen, San Francisco State University; Hamid Mahmoodi, San Francisco State University; Hao Jiang, San Francisco State University; Danny Daneth Ceron Garcia

Tagged Topics

Diversity, Pacific Southwest Section Meeting Paper Submissions

confidence and interest in pursuing a STEM profession. Theprogram also helped the students improve their skills in teamwork, time management, scientificwriting, and presentation.II. Overview of the ASIPRES Internship ProgramA. Recruitment of Program ParticipantsThe ASPIRES interns were recruited through an online application process. Before the recruitingprocess starts, the faculty advisor of each research project prepared a description of the project aswell as required and recommended background knowledge needed for the research project. Theapplication package includes the applicant’s GPA, intended major, STEM courses completed,other skills, training and experience, a statement of academic plan, career goals, and researchinterests, and a statement

Conference Session

ERM Technical Session 13: Student Learning and Contexts

Collection

2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Eleanor Leung, York College of Pennsylvania

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

, or a couple of students can have the ”instructor role” to ensure the ratio is met. This isa resource-intensive activity so it is easier to implement in small-sized classes and programs. AtIRE and YCP class sizes are between 8-12 and 15-18 students, respectively. However, it is notused as a regular classroom activity and only occurs one to two times a semester due to theamount of planning and setup required.Finally, the instructor decides if this is to be an individual or group activity. For an individualactivity, there should be a variety of questions both in the content area and depth so students whoare stuck on one question can move onto another and use their time wisely. More details on thissetup can be found in iteration one and two in

Conference Session

First-Year Programs: Focusing on Student Success

Collection

2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Stephen Roberts, University of Florida; Fazil T. Najafi, University of Florida; Curtis R. Taylor, University of Florida

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

First-Year Programs

, seminars, and workshops, and has developed courses, videos and software packages during his career. His areas of specialization include transportation planning, Engineering and management, legal aspects, construction contract administration, Renewable Energy and public works.Dr. Curtis R. Taylor, University of Florida Dr. Curtis R. Taylor, Ph.D. is the Associate Dean for Student Affairs for the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering and Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida (UF). Dr. Taylor leads and manages all undergraduate student service activities including aca- demic, professional, and extra-curricular activities in the College. Dr. Taylor directs the soft

Conference Session

M1B: WIP - Learning Experiences 2

Collection

2019 FYEE Conference

Authors

Robert V. Pieri, North Dakota State University; Austin James Allard, Turtle Mountain Community College; Josh Mattes, Sitting Bull College; Michael Maloy Parker, Cankdeska Cikana Community College; Lori Nelson, Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College; Ann Vallie; Karl Haefner

Tagged Topics

Diversity, FYEE Conference - Paper Submission

figuratively.RESULTS TO DATE:The intuitive sense of the instructor and associated TCU engineering mentors is that theresults to date are positive. But this has not been quantitatively confirmed at thiswriting. It is perceived that although numbers may only be slightly larger, there seemsto be a better persistence with the students participating. That perception is embodiedby students that are able to put up with temporary tribulations and still being able tomove forward. It is freely conceded that work is needed to quantify this perceptionthrough application of attitudinal surveys or other tools to get a better understanding ofwhat is actually occurring. It is planned that in future months this will occur.REFERENCES:[1].. Retention of Minority Students in

Collection

2019 ETLI

Authors

Jerad J Pelotte

 Plan site visits around the State of Maine that pertain to power and energy  Foster mentorship to support academic and professional development in power engineeringEmployer support  Scholarships  Donate hardware/material and/or money for these items  Employer facility tours  Internship opportunities © TRC Companies, Inc. All rights reserved 7TRC Internship ProgramInternships have been active at TRC for over 20 yearsHistorically the interns are hired into a particular office or department and helpsupport that local team with various tasks throughout the internship

Conference Session

Liberal Education/Engineering & Society Division Technical Session 4

Collection

2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Diana A. Chen, University of San Diego; Mark R. Peters, University of San Diego; Gordon D. Hoople, University of San Diego; Joel Alejandro Mejia, University of San Diego; Susan M. Lord, University of San Diego

Tagged Divisions

Liberal Education/Engineering & Society

previous to the activity (Q6). While these percentages suggest that we need tomake the connection more explicitly in the future, it was encouraging to see that students foundvalue in the activity. In fact, one student insightfully pointed this out in their comment: “Theboundary between engineering identity and personal identity could be examined more.”To address this disconnect, in future iterations of this activity, we plan to tie this personal valuesactivity to “resume values” following the engineering career fair. As first- and second-yearstudents, attending the engineering career fair pushes them to think critically about what sort offuture they are seeking as professional engineers, and how they should begin constructing theirresumes to

Conference Session

Improved Pathways to Graduate Studies

Collection

2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

La'Tonia Stiner-Jones, Ohio State University; Wolfgang Windl, Ohio State University

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

more of our graduate programs inthe college. Most recently, we were asked to create a plan for the university. As changescontinue, we will evaluate outcomes and impact within the college and across the university overtime, which we hope will inform best practices for improving completion of graduate degreesand diversity of graduate programs.IntroductionFor decades, graduate programs have evaluated students for admission based in considerable parton the standardized graduate record examination (GRE) and grade point average (GPA). Thesemetrics, however, have limited correlation to success in graduate school. Moreover, based on a2008 Council of Graduate Schools study, only about 50% of PhD students in science completetheir degree in seven years

Conference Session

Biomedical Division Postcard Session

Collection

2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Cristi L. Bell-Huff, Georgia Institute of Technology; Kali Lynn Morgan, Georgia Institute of Technology; Joseph M. LeDoux, Georgia Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Biomedical Engineering

 strongly agreed that respect characterized their student­faculty partnerships. In addition, the value of empathy characterized by understanding a student’s perspective of a course was emphasized through individual faculty comments such as “(I) gained some perspectives I would not have otherwise had” and “(my student partner) brought a student perspective to the planning process. Really invaluable.” One faculty respondent did not agree with characterization of the partnerships in the areas of reciprocity, responsibility, community, or empathy. However, the responses of this particular faculty member may be explained by their individual comments which included statements such as “personally I was not as involved as the other team members

Conference Session

Multidisciplinary Engineering Design II

Collection

2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Vy-Linh Gale, New York University; Victoria Bill, New York University; Jessica Si

Tagged Divisions

Multidisciplinary Engineering

increasing after incorporating assistive technology or real-world medical applicationsinto course projects [3, 4].Research regarding the development of these real-world biomedical application courses andassistive technology often encourage multidisciplinary teams [1]. One example combinedengineering and business students who worked on entrepreneurial assistive technologyprototypes and a business plan [5]. These projects were also used to introduce and involvestudents in technology transfer opportunities [5, 6]. Another course combined biomechanicalengineering and occupational therapy students, with faculty from both disciplines teaching thestudents and combined design teams. Feedback on the interdisciplinary teaching style waspositive, though there

Conference Session

Student Learning and Success

Collection

2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Deepak R. Keshwani, University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Jennifer Keshwani, University of Nebraska, Lincoln

Tagged Divisions

Biological and Agricultural Engineering

instead of right before it is due. I try to plan ahead more often also so I can do things I want instead of writing a paper or something while my friends are out having fun.’ ‘One thing I have done differently is try to limit my procrastination. A couple years ago I probably would have tried to cram this assignment in last minute, but now I’m completing it on Monday! Another improvement I have made is using a planner, so I make sure I have time to complete all assignments and study for tests.The idea of relationships and connections shows up as a distinct difference between ASMTstudents and their engineering counterparts, which needs further investigation. Students werepassionate about connecting with

Collection

2019 CIEC

Authors

Patricia Fox; Charles McIntyre

/managingmultiple priorities; interpersonal abilities; leadership/management aptitudes; multiculturalsensitivity/awareness; planning/organizing; problem-solving/reasoning/creativity; and teamwork11. The desire for these soft skills were confirmed as something employers sought in otherstudies conducted in Europe, such as: professionalism; reliability; ability to cope withuncertainty; work under pressure; capability to communicate and interact with others, either inteams or through networking; good written and verbal communication; information andcommunication technology skills; creativity and self-confidence; good self-management andtime-management; and willingness to learn and accept responsibility.3, 20, 21, 26 A 2011 studyconducted through the Corporate

Collection

2018 Gulf Southwest Section Conference

Authors

Timothy Urban; Margaret Baguio

summer internships to By leveraging the strengths of this partnership, SEES include classroom differentiation.is: • Provide opportunities for participants to understand and be a• Educating students by utilizing rigorous STEM part of NASA’s role in climate investigations and how these curriculum enhancement activities that meet national studies fit into the global picture. science, technology, engineering, and math standards 4.2 Project Plans and encompass the research and technology of NASA’s The primary focus of the internship is for the students to learn Earth Science mission

Collection

2018 Gulf Southwest Section Conference

Authors

Chaoyi Wang; Michael Frye; Sreerenjini Nair

competitions. In summer 2016, 26has been viewed as other approaches to increase students’ camp participants were representing different schoolinterests and improve study accesses to STEM fields in the districts of San Antonio with a special emphasis onUnited States. The addition of the arts in STAEM education recruiting from underrepresented communities. Fiveprovides more learning opportunities and real-world undergraduate research assistants from the AVS Lab andcontexts which meet more students’ interests. three middle school teachers from the local school districts miniGEMS 2017 was a free two-week summer STEAM helped with the prior planning and the entire managementand programming camp for middle

Collection

2018 Gulf Southwest Section Conference

Authors

Vijaya Gopu; Ayman Okeil; Roger Seals

course during any given semester, Finally, the content of the modules was rated good-verycooperation of the course instructor was needed. That good on average, which is acceptable but leaves room forcooperation entailed providing two class periods and time improvement. The authors are continuously improving thein another class for the briefing cited above. In addition, content of the modules as well as the quality of the deliveryprovision for the inclusion of a description of the planned of the modules to ensure better student engagement andeducational experience in the course syllabus as well as achievement level of learning outcomes.course credit for the experience extra credit or somepercent of the course

Conference Session

Track: Learning Spaces, Pedagogy, and Curriculum - Technical Session 11

Collection

2019 CoNECD - The Collaborative Network for Engineering and Computing Diversity

Authors

Maxine Fontaine, Stevens Institute of Technology (School of Engineering and Science); Alexander John De Rosa, Stevens Institute of Technology (School of Engineering and Science); Susan Staffin Metz, Stevens Institute of Technology (School of Engineering and Science)

Tagged Topics

Diversity, Learning Spaces, Pedagogy & Curriculum Design

initial spatialability, all first-year engineering students were required to take the PSVT:R during the first week of thesemester. Students were then placed in one of three categories based on their test scores: Spatial Novice,Spatial Intermediate, and Spatial Master. A different point value was associated with each category, asshown in Table 1, with a maximum of 5 points translating to full credit for the 5% of the semester coursegrade. Table 1. Incentive Plan for Spatial Skills Component (Fall 2018) Spatial Novice (0 pts) Spatial Intermediate (3 pts) Spatial Master (5 pts) Test score 60% - 69% Test score > 70% Test score < 60

Conference Session

Technological and Engineering Literacy/Philosophy of Engineering Division Technical Session 3

Collection

2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Huiming Fan, East China University of Science and Technology

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Technological and Engineering Literacy/Philosophy of Engineering

thinking 4.31 (0.887) 0.678 Having different views on the decision- 4.18 (0.913) 0.788 Innovation and making and planning of the superiors Challenge Ability Willing to accept challenges and get in 4.21 (0.891) 0.681 touch with new things Being equipped with a persevering will 4.35 (0.889) 0.760 Self-Value Shaping Having one’s own life planning and 4.39 (0.863) 0.582 Ability development goalsThrough

Conference Session

College-Industry Partnerships Division Technical Session 2

Collection

2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Alyson Grace Eggleston, The Citadel; Robert J. Rabb P.E., The Citadel

Tagged Divisions

College Industry Partnerships

Strategy Description When to use Pros Cons One member writes For simple tasks. Efficient; simple May misrepresent for the entire group. style. group consensus. Single-author Each member is For asynchronous Easy to organize; Version control assigned a specific work with poor simplifies planning. issues arise with Sequential part. coordination. subsequent writers. Writing assignments When high volume

Conference Session

Environmental Engineering Division Technical Session 2

Collection

2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Alan S. Hoback, University of Detroit Mercy; Alexa Rihana Abdallah, University of Detroit Mercy

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Environmental Engineering

township, county and state level.The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is responsible for monitoringworking conditions in the United States. OSHA has authority to inspect any place of work at anytime, but twenty-six states have approved plans. This means that OSHA has delegated authorityto them. OSHA directly runs the program in the other states [6]. OSHA plans inspections usingthree processes. First, programmed inspections are those that happen frequently because theindustry is hazardous. Second, complaint inspections are responses to worker(s) complainingabout working conditions. Third, referral inspections are responses to health inspectors referringissues to OSHA. Although inspections are rare at manufacturing establishments

Conference Session

Ocean and Marine Division Technical Session 1

Collection

2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Byul Hur, Texas A&M University; Rogelio Casas Jr, Texas A&M University; David Anthony Cervantes; Justin Raymond Comer; Brielle Roxanne De Anda; Landon James Ledbetter, Oncor Electric Delivery; Andres Fly; Erika L. Davila, Texas A&M University; Grace E Tsai, Texas A&M University

Tagged Divisions

Ocean and Marine

previously. His research interests include Mixed-signal/RF circuit design and testing, measurement automation, environmental & biomedical data measurement, and educational robotics development.Mr. Rogelio Casas Jr, Texas A&M University Rogelio Casas Jr. was an ESET student at Texas A&M University and graduated in the Fall of 2018. He was the Project Manager throughout the project and is currently working at General Motors in Austin, Texas as a Software Developer. He plans on continuing his education through hands-on training and a potential Masters in Computer Science.Mr. David Anthony Cervantes David Cervantes graduated with a B.S degree in Electronic Systems Engineering Technology from Texas A&M

Conference Session

A Technology Potpourri III

Collection

2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mustafa Shraim, Ohio University; Neil Littell, Ohio University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

] [3].Just as parts have standard tolerances, assemblies comprised of those parts have a tolerance aswell. The total tolerance for the assembly is directly driven by the tolerances of the parts whichcomprise the assembly. For example, if the assembly were comprised of parts which are all at theupper end of their total tolerance, the assembly might not function as intended. Therefore, designengineers must be mindful of the total tolerance with respect to the assembly. This phenomenonis known as tolerance stacking. However, the implementation of a proactive plan to avoidproduction issues caused by assemblies which are out of tolerance due to tolerance stacking isnot as straight forward to understand because the effects of tolerance staking are a

Conference Session

ET Curriculum & Programs

Collection

2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Aimee T. Ulstad, Ohio State University; Kathryn Kelley, Ohio State University; Teresa A. Johnson, Ohio State University

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

been feeder campuses. The purpose is to share the lessonslearned from this program development with others in the engineering education and technologyspace as a joint learning exercise.Research – Program RationaleWith the current resurgence of manufacturing, the largest economic sector in the region, today’sneed for technical talent has outpaced Ohio State’s ability to provide enough students to meetworkforce demands. Technological change, global competition, and a protracted economicdownturn combined to usher in and hasten the era of shop-floor digitalization and automation ofmanufacturing. Combined with the Great Recession’s impact on human resource planning, thegrowing "silver tsunami” of retiring skilled workers and the lack of a