Outcomes Assessment In A Hands On Manufacturing Processes Course

Industry has consistently identified lack of experience in manufacturing processes as one of the key competency gaps among new engineering graduates. This paper will discuss a laboratorybased Manufacturing Processes course that provides hands-on manufacturing experience to students. In addition to standard theoretical concepts, the course uses team-based projects that help students gain hands-on experience with selected manufacturing processes. The projects start with simple components that can be made on a single machine such as a lathe or a mill, and progress to the manufacture and assembly of a fully functional mechanism. This approach introduces students to the issues involved in putting together a non-trivial assembly. Multiple evaluation tools including surveys, focus-groups, and actual observations, were used to determine the effectiveness of the approach used. The results indicate that this is an effective way of addressing industry concerns.