Advancing Manufacturing through Integration of Information Technology

根据美国经济分析局的数据，2017年威斯康星州制造业的经济产出为591亿美元。支持该部门的熟练技术人员必须了解信息技术和制造业。为此，该项目将开发一个18学时的入门级集成制造认证，重点是信息技术和操作/生产技术系统。证书中的课程将定义由当地和州一级的教师开发的能力。该证书课程将允许学生在不到一年的时间内获得整个州认可的行业认可的认证。该项目将采用根植于建构主义、探究、反思、协作和整合的教学方法，以及全面的学生支持，培养为就业做好准备的学生。教师的专业发展将侧重于课程开发和培训师同行指导。期望这种方法能够帮助学生在享受以项目为基础、以内容为基础、以实践为基础的学习环境的同时，保留更多的知识。此外，学院将通过实行双学分制，增加中专学生在先进制造业方面的学习机会。在先进系统制造领域，许多企业都在努力维持一支掌握最新技能以保持竞争力的员工队伍。很少有高等院校提供集成制造的教育，同时关注信息技术和操作/生产技术系统。因此，使用智能技术的制造业需要更多具备这些综合技能的工人。例如，威斯康辛州达连市的Bird's Eye Food每年的工资为1940万美元，并从当地的供应商和服务团体购买另外1亿美元的商品和服务。2017年，Bird's Eye Food向其达连工厂投资了1300万美元，用于安装三条新的自动化机器人包装生产线。自动化程度的提高和相应的速度能力的提高，需要具有机器人技术先进技能的维护技术人员来维修、排除故障和维护这些设备。为了满足这一需求和相关需求，该项目将开发一个集成制造课程，为学生提供专业培训和行业认可的认证。为了实现这一目标，学院将与当地工业、制造商、劳动力发展委员会、威斯康星技术学院系统和国家融合技术中心合作，开发一套包含最新行业进展（如工业4.0）的课程。完整开发的课程将是开源的，可供全国和国际的教育工作者使用。该项目由先进技术教育计划资助，该计划侧重于为推动国家经济的先进技术领域培养技术人员。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。

According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, in 2017 the manufacturing sector in Wisconsin produced $59.1 billion in economic output. The skilled technical workforce that supports this sector must understand both information technology and manufacturing. To this end, this project will develop an 18-credit hour, entry-level Integrated Manufacturing Certification with an emphasis on both Information Technology and Operational/Production Technology systems. The courses in the certificate will have defined competencies developed by faculty at the local and the state level. This certificate program will allow students to earn an industry-approved certification in less than a year that is recognized throughout the state. The project will use instructional approaches rooted in constructivism, inquiry, reflection, collaboration, and integration, as well as holistic student support, to graduate workforce-ready students. Professional development for faculty will focus on curriculum development and train-the-trainer peer instruction. It is expected that this approach will help students retain more knowledge while enjoying learning in a project-based, content-based, hands-on environment. In addition, the college will increase the learning opportunities in advanced manufacturing for secondary education students through pursuit of dual credits.Many businesses in the field of advanced systems manufacturing struggle to maintain a workforce that is up-to-date in the skills required to remain competitive. Few post-secondary institutions provide education in Integrated Manufacturing with focus both on Information Technology and Operational/Production Technology systems. As a result, industries with manufacturing operations that use smart technologies need more workers with these integrated skills. For example, Bird's Eye Food in Darien, WI, has an annual payroll of $19.4 million, and purchases another $100 million in goods and services from vendors and service groups in the local area. In 2017, Bird's Eye Food invested 13 million dollars into its Darien facility for the installation of three new automated robotic packaging production lines. The increased automation and associated increased speed capabilities have created a need for maintenance technicians with advanced skills in robotic technology to service, troubleshoot, and maintain this equipment. To address this and related needs, the project will develop an Integrated Manufacturing curriculum that provides students with specialized training and industry approved certifications. To achieve this goal, the College will work with local industries, manufacturers, workforce development boards, the Wisconsin Technical College System, and the National Convergence Technology Center to develop a curriculum that incorporates the newest industry advancements (e.g., Industry 4.0). The fully-developed curriculum will be open-source and available to educators across the country and internationally. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education program that focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the nation's economy.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.