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Session 3563

Puttering Around -- An Interdisciplinary Manufacturing Project

W.L. Scheller II, Ph.D. Kettering University, Flint, Michigan

Abstract

Innovative, interdisciplinary laboratory exercises are difficult to develop and successfully execute. This paper describes a joint manufacturing engineering/mechanical engineering project to design and machine the head of a golf putter. The project spanned two terms. The project involved two separate courses, one in manufacturing engineering and another in mechanical engineering. Only one student in the first term was a member of both classes. In the manufacturing engineering course, teams were assigned so that manufacturing and mechanical engineers worked together. A questionnaire on specific engineering knowledge was used to assist in team assignments.

Introduction

Much has been said and written about the desirability of interdisciplinary, team based projects for undergraduate engineers. This paper does not repeat these points, rather describes the implementation of such a project.

Manufacturing Engineering and Mechanical Engineering at Kettering University (formerly GMI Engineering & Management Institute) are separate academic programs and are not part of the same department. Manufacturing Engineering is in the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering and Business. Mechanical Engineering is a stand-alone department. As with all Kettering University programs, students in both Manufacturing Engineering and Mechanical Engineering have cooperative education positions beginning in the freshman year.

The purpose of the Manufacturing Engineering Program is to produce an engineer capable of taking a product design and subsequently designing the manufacturing system required to put the design into production and monitor the quality of the output. The Manufacturing Engineering program employs hands-on laboratories using only industrial grade equipment. Students are taught both analytical and statistical methods associated with manufacturing.

The purpose of the Mechanical Engineering Program is to produce an engineer with excellent abilities to perform design and analysis of physical objects and systems of objects. Specialties within the program include automotive, medical, and polymer products. There is also a manufacturing track within Mechanical Engineering. In this track students take three Manufacturing Engineering courses, but the emphasis remains on product design and computational analysis of manufacturing processes.

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Scheller, W. L. (2000, June), Puttering Around An Interdisciplinary Manufacturing Project Paper presented at 2000 Annual Conference, St. Louis, Missouri. 10.18260/1-2--8651