Welcome to CMD Project !!!

Summary of this project

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Recent changes in the global business environment dictate the need for engineering technicians to obtain new skills in Design for Manufacturability, Parametric Solid Modeling, Team-work, and Communication. In addition, there is a significant workforce shortage of engineering technicians across the U.S. and particularly within the areas of Iowa and South Dakota served by this proposal.

This project focuses on improving the way that the above topics are taught in community college manufacturing education programs. It also focuses on increasing the pool of qualified applicants to these programs. Four flexible course modules and instructor-training materials will be developed that may be infused into a wide range of existing curricula. The modules integrate design for manufacturability, team-work skills and parametric solid modeling content to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of instruction. Summative evaluation tools will be used to assess the impacts of the modules on student skills.

Women who are completing an internship in a baccalaureate program in technical training will deliver a program designed to recruit female students into manufacturing-related programs at three Midwestern community colleges. In addition, these interns will support community college technical instruction to supplement released time for community college instructors who are involved in this project.

An outcome of this project will be larger numbers of better prepared workers that will lead to a more competitive U.S. manufacturing industry. The eventual impact on students will be a heightened awareness of the inter-action between design and manufacturing, and the skills to effectively operate in a team environment.