Evaluation of Shortcomings of Manufacturing Processes Knowledge and Evolution of Remedies

1 Zbigniew Prusak, Engineering Technology Dept., Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT 06050-4010, [email protected] Abstract  Requirements, learning activities and learning assessment techniques used in teaching of planning of discrete part manufacturing are described in this paper. Results of various surveys demonstrate that industry accords big importance to engineering graduates’ fluency in manufacturing processes. Assessment of student learning and knowledge is done through group and individual assignments. A strong emphasis is put on defining requirements for various properties of manufactured parts and simple assemblies, metrics for these properties, as well as on finding alternate ways (processes) that can fulfill these requirements. The properties are mainly from five groups: functional, physical, geometric, aesthetic and economic. Shortcomings of students’ knowledge in the field of manufacturing processes, evolution of assignments to remedy them are also described. The assignments and a range of teaching aids are described in terms of learning effectiveness (evaluated by observed technical merit of results and by student surveys) and in terms of learning time efficiency (student surveys).