Smart Manufacturing for America's Revolutionizing Technological Transformation

智能制造将自动化流程与先进的传感器网络、数据分析以及信息和通信技术相结合，以提高公司的生产力。它被广泛认为是一种突破性的技术趋势，具有改变制造业的潜力。2015年，美国首次定义了智能制造。然而，美国目前的努力并没有导致受过智能制造技术培训的劳动力的增长。许多人不太清楚智能制造涉及什么，它的重要性是什么，或者它如何应用于他们的公司。为了克服这一知识差距，技术教育工作者有机会充分了解这些技术进步是很重要的。然后，他们能够适当地为快速变化的行业培养技术人员所需的技能。在这个项目中，将为机电一体化和工程技术课程的教育工作者创建和提供培训讲习班和资源。这些资源也将提供给制造商和当地工业，以增加他们对这一技术领域的参与。该项目将有助于改善未来制造业技术人员和国家劳动力的教育。该项目的目标将是：1)创建智能制造的教育模块和劳动力发展工具；2)识别智能制造专业人员的技能组合和需求；3)开发一个知识库，作为行业和STEM教育工作者的知识库；4)提高对智能制造的认识；5)建立工业评估中心（IAC）实地考察的最佳实践知识库。在这个项目中，智能制造的教育模块将在培训师研讨会和网络研讨会中实施。模块中涵盖的主题将包括：智能制造中使用的技术概述；可持续制造;加法制造;第四次工业革命与制造业创新；制造业中的数据科学；以及自适应控制系统和机器智能。将建立一个在线平台，作为开发的材料和资源的存储库，使教育工作者和制造业人员能够就智能制造的应用和技术进行交流。该项目的成果将在技术社区和场所内广泛传播。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Smart manufacturing combines automated processes with networks of advanced sensors, data analytics, and information and communication technologies to improve the productivity of companies. It has been widely recognized as a groundbreaking technological trend with the potential to transform manufacturing industries. Smart manufacturing was first defined by the United States in 2015. However, current efforts in the United States have not resulted in the growth of a workforce trained to utilize smart manufacturing techniques. Many individuals are not quite sure what is involved in smart manufacturing, what is its importance, or how it applies to their companies. To overcome this knowledge gap, it is important for technician educators to have opportunities to become well-informed about such advances in technology. They are then able to properly prepare technicians with the skills needed for rapidly-changing industries. In this project, training workshops and resources will be created and offered for educators in mechatronics and engineering technology programs. These resources will also be made available to manufacturers and local industries to increase their involvement with this technology area. The project will contribute to improving the education of future manufacturing technicians and the nation's workforce.The goals of the project will be to: 1) create educational modules and workforce development tools on smart manufacturing; 2) identify the skill sets and needs of smart manufacturing professionals; 3) develop a repository that serves as a knowledge base for industry and STEM educators; 4) increase awareness about smart manufacturing; and 5) develop a knowledge base of best practices for Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) site visits. In this project, the educational modules on smart manufacturing will be implemented in train-the-trainer workshops and webinars. Topics covered in the modules will include: an overview of technologies used in smart manufacturing; sustainable manufacturing; additive manufacturing; the fourth industrial revolution and manufacturing innovations; data science in manufacturing; and adaptive control systems and machine intelligence. An online platform will be established as the repository for the developed materials and resources, and will allow educators and manufacturing personnel in industry to exchange ideas on applications and techniques for smart manufacturing. Results from the project will be widely disseminated within technical communities and venues.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.