Starting An Industry Centered Manufacturing Engineering Program

In September of 1996 Western Michigan University starting offering courses in its newly approved Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Manufacturing Engineering) Program in Muskegon, Michigan one hundred miles from its main campus in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Development of the curriculum for the new engineering program was overseen by a committee composed of representatives of the Muskegon area World Class Manufacturing Council (WCMC), Western Michigan University (WMU), and MCC (Muskegon Community College). WMU’s dean of engineering and the director (a non-academic position) of WMU’s Muskegon Regional Center (MRC) represented WMU. MCC was represented by its dean of community services, a science professor (who teaches engineering physics, statics, and dynamics), and the head of MCC’s technology department. WCMC was represented by a group of 13 engineers, engineering managers, and manufacturing managers from 13 local manufacturing companies. This committee developed an overall structure for the curriculum as well as defining specific skills and experiences that the courses in the curriculum should provide: