Preparing Students for the Industry 4.0 Technician Workforce

制造商正在实施新的Industry 4.0技术，以改善其生产系统和供应链的性能。高技能的技术人员对于设计、编程和维护这些技术中使用的软件和硬件是必不可少的。技术教育计划需要跟上学生在进入劳动力大军时将遇到的新技术的步伐。该项目将开发一个行业4.0实践培训计划，为学生在五个技术学位课程中为多种职业道路做准备。学生将学习跨多个学科的技能，如故障排除、预防性维护和项目管理。项目团队将进行一项行业调查，以确定在Industry 4.0环境中需要哪些技能。根据调查结果，一套六门技术课程将被修订，以创建一个新的具有行业认证的证书计划。将开发一个新的工业4.0实验室，提供有关工业4.0技术的实践培训。项目组将为传统上任职人数不足的群体的学生实施招聘战略方面的最佳做法，以扩大对技术劳动力的参与。该项目的目标是：(1)与行业和现有的ATE中心合作，确定行业4.0所需的技能；(2)修订多个学位课程的6门课程，以创建新的证书课程；以及(3)增加五个技术员学位课程中代表性不足群体的学生数量。项目团队将使用侧重于行业4.0技术的技能调查，从该地区的行业和两个ATE中心收集数据。调查结果将用于确定新的技能要求，并修订多个学位课程中使用的六门课程，即可编程逻辑控制器、环境健康与安全、机电一体化入门、电路分析、维护程序简介和生物工艺设备维护。将使用这套课程创建一个新的行业4.0证书计划。将利用业界和两个ATE中心的投入开发一个工业4.0实验室。该实验室将为拥有多个自动化站的学生提供实践学习体验，这些自动化站包括自动化过程所需的传感器、执行器和控制器。项目组将实施有效的咨询战略，从代表性不足的群体中招收和留住学生。该项目的调查结果、课程和教材将在北卡罗来纳州社区学院系统和全国技术教育会议上传播。该项目由高级技术教育计划资助，该计划专注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NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Manufacturers are implementing new Industry 4.0 technologies to improve the performance of their production systems and supply chain. Highly skilled technicians are essential for designing, programming, and maintaining software and hardware used in these technologies. Technical education programs need to keep pace with the new technologies that students will encounter when they enter the workforce. This project will develop an Industry 4.0 hands-on training program to prepare students in five technology degree programs for multiple career pathways. Students will learn skills that cut across multiple disciplines such as troubleshooting, preventative maintenance, and project management. The project team will conduct an industry survey to determine what skills are needed in an Industry 4.0 environment. Based on the survey results, a set of six technology courses will be revised to create a new certificate program with industry certifications. A new Industry 4.0 laboratory will be developed to provide hands-on training on Industry 4.0 technologies. The project team will implement best practices in recruiting strategies for students from traditionally underrepresented groups to broaden participation in the technical workforce. The project goals are to: (1) identify skills needed for Industry 4.0 in collaboration with industry and existing ATE centers, (2) revise six courses across multiple degree programs to create a new certificate program, and (3) increase the number of students from underrepresented groups in five technician degree programs. The project team will collect data from industry in the region and two ATE centers using a skills survey that is focused on Industry 4.0 technologies. Survey results will be used to identify new skills requirements and revise six courses used in multiple degree programs, namely, Programmable Logic Controllers, Environmental Health and Safety, Introduction to Mechatronics, Circuit Analysis, Introduction to Maintenance Procedures, and Bioprocess Equipment Maintenance. A new Industry 4.0 certificate program will be created using this set of courses. An Industry 4.0 laboratory will be developed with input from industry and two ATE centers. The laboratory will provide hands-on learning experiences for students with multiple automation stations that include the sensors, actuators, and controller necessary for automating a process. The project team will implement effective advising strategies for recruiting and retaining students from underrepresented groups. The survey results, curriculum, and educational materials from this project will be disseminated across the North Carolina Community College System and at national technical education conferences. 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.