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Poster Session 93

A Manufacturing Engineering Experiential Learning Program

Thomas H. Ortmeyer@, Karl Cunningham& and M. Sathyamoorthy@ @ Clarkson University, Potsdam, New York & Alcoa-Massena Operations, Massena, New York

Abstract

The current paper describes the development and implementation of an industry/university collaboration in experiential learning. Each individual project in this program consists of the participating student, an industrial mentor, and a faculty mentor. The year long program is designed to offer the participating student the opportunity to participate in a design project at a level which is not possible with the more traditional summer employment. At the same time, the program allows a greater degree of flexibility for the industrial mentor, and provides for more industry/university interaction than often occurs with summer or co-op employment.

1. Introduction

Engineering design is an important component of the undergraduate engineering education. Additionally, workplace experience can provide engineering students with a perspective that is difficult to achieve in either the classroom or teaching laboratory. This paper describes an ongoing program which provides engineering students with both design and workplace experience in the area of manufacturing engineering.

While engineering design is recognized as a key component of engineering education, methods of providing undergraduate students with a significant design experience vary widely among disciplines and faculty. Dunn-Rankin, et. al.[1] state the "design training, though somewhat ill-defined, is crucial to enable graduating engineers to contribute in today’s competitive manufacturing environment." A key aspect of this dilemma is that design practices vary by discipline and project criteria. In surveying 47 companies on their priorities in manufacturing engineering education, Mason [2] notes that "the importance of hands-on experience emphasized by the survey is a break from a traditional engineering curriculum."

At the same time, it is recognized that workplace experience is a key factor in enabling graduates in making a successful transition from academic life to engineering careers.

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Ortmeyer, T. H., & Sathyamoorthy, M., & Cunningham, K. (2000, June), A Manufacturing Engineering Experiential Learning Program Paper presented at 2000 Annual Conference, St. Louis, Missouri. 10.18260/1-2--8549