Implementation of the Learning Factory Model in the Montana Tech General Engineering Program (Butte MT)

蒙大拿大学蒙大拿理工学院通用工程系与落基山敏捷虚拟企业技术开发中心(RAVE TDC)合作，正在调整和实施与学习工厂模式相关的产品和过程实现课程。这种教育模式最初是由宾夕法尼亚大学、波多黎各大学和华盛顿大学开发的。该项目旨在通过用创新的教育项目支持蒙大拿州的轻工制造业来提高该州的经济福祉；通过开发体验式学习项目来改善STEM教育；以及克服制造业工程师协会和其他机构已经确定的工程教育能力差距。整个学习计划面向并得到广泛的支持，包括本科工程专业学生、技术专业学生、制造业专业人员、高中生和高中数学、科学和技术教师。该计划有一个强大的外展计划，将蒙大拿州的教育企业与国家和当地的技术公司联系起来。该计划的智力优势在于它正在开发设计和制造方面的有效和创新的教育计划。这些项目强调多学科的团队建设和在现代制造设施中的实践学习。该项目团队在制造、设计、业务管理和开发复杂的协作方面拥有广泛的能力和经验。这项拟议的工作是基于首席研究员两年的努力，在蒙大拿州开发了一个灵活的制造研究设施。这个项目不仅对蒙大拿理工大学产生了更广泛的影响，而且对整个蒙大拿大学系统也产生了更广泛的影响。拟议的计划旨在建立一个课程，让学生通过涉及广泛开发新产品的主动学习模式来学习和发现基本的科学和工程概念。RAVE制造/原型制造中心(RAVE MPC)通过提供精密制造设施来支持该项目。拟议的教育计划将通过培养能够在现代精密制造设施中有效工作的学生来支持RAVE MPC。这一结合将使RAVE MPC成为蒙大拿州主要的科学和教育仪器制造商，从而支持全州的研究和教育。

The Department of General Engineering at Montana Tech of the University of Montana in partnership with the Rocky Mountain Agile Virtual Enterprises Technical Development Center (RAVE TDC) are adapting and implementing the Product and Process Realization curricula associated with the Learning Factory Model. This educational model was originally developed by the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Puerto Rico and the University of Washington. This project is designed to enhance the economic well being of the state of Montana by supporting its light manufacturing industry with innovative educational programs; improve STEM education by developing experiential learning programs; and overcome engineering education competency gaps that have been identified by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and others. The overall program of study is directed at and supported by a wide range of constituencies including undergraduate engineering students, technology students, manufacturing professionals, high school students and high school math, science and technology teachers. The program has a robust outreach program that is connecting the educational enterprise of Montana with national as well as local technology companies.The intellectual merit of the project is that it is developing effective and innovative educational programs in design and manufacturing. These programs emphasize multi-disciplinary team building and hands on learning within a modern fabrication facility. The project team has a broad range of competencies and experiences in manufacturing, design, business management and developing complex collaborations. The proposed work is building upon two years worth of effort by the principal investigator to develop a flexible manufacturing research facility within the state of Montana.This project is having a broader impact not only at Montana Tech but also the entire Montana University System. The proposed program is designed to establish a curriculum in which students learn and discover fundamental science and engineering concepts through active learning models that involve extensive development of new products. RAVE Manufacturing/Prototyping Center (RAVE MPC) supports the project by providing a precision fabrication facility. The proposed educational programs will support the RAVE MPC by developing students capable of effectively working in a modern, precision fabrication facility. This combination will allow the RAVE MPC to become the premier fabricator of scientific and educational instrumentation in the state of Montana and therefore support statewide research and education.