Work in progress — project-based learning in manufacturing process

A project-based learning (PBL) is implemented in the teaching of a manufacturing process course at the undergraduate level to focus on reducing the gap between what´s been taught in the classroom and what´s been practiced on the manufacturing floor. Instead of the traditional lecture/homework/exam approach, each student is asked to complete a semester long project in the areas of manufacturing processes and manufacturing materials. Surveys are conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the approach. It is expected that the implementation of PBL approach will more fully utilize the instructor´s years of manufacturing experience and bring real manufacturing practices to the classroom. It is also expected that the students, upon completion of the course, will be more ready to take on a career in manufacturing and start to perform on day one. The overall effectiveness of this approach will also be evaluated by company supervisors on student interns who have taken the course versus those who have not.