Integration of manufacturing in electrical engineering curriculum at the University of Massachusetts Lowell

James B. Francis College of Engineering at UMass Lowell in general, and Electrical Engineering Department in particular, has realized the importance of manufacturability of its designs all along as is evidenced from its curriculum, placement of its graduates, and close ties with the regional industries. Under this proposed initiative however, a number of specific courses will be revised in order to imbibe substantial manufacturing content, along with returning all the pertinent analytical skills needed for succeeding in the real engineering world. The goal is not only to educate the students in fundamentals of EE but to also train them in the latest state-of-the-art technology, in order to make students productive on the job, right from the first day. The industry does not have time and resources to train new hires. We, therefore propose to introduce concepts of Integrated Process/Product Development (IPPD) in the undergraduate curriculum of Electrical Engineering (EE) in all its phases