Education for the Manufacturing World of the Future. Series on Technology and Social Priorities Symposium (1st, Washington, D.C., September 20-21, 1984)

The clearly declining competitiveness of the United States in the world marketplace has prompted increased concern about the health of the United States' manufacturing industries. This volume is the result of lively discussions and formal presentations by industry leaders and education experts during a symposium convened by the National Academy of Engineering and the National Research Council. Issues involving the changing face of U.S. manufacturing, requirements for educating and training engineers for manufacturing careers, and the possibilities for cooperative arrangements between industry and academia are examined in-depth in an effort to improve manufacturing education and therefore move toward boosting the nation's world competitiveness in manufacturing. Perspectives on issues affecting manufacturing enterprises are given by educators and industrial planners and managers in this symposium report. The symposium was designed to bring together industrial manufacturing companies and the universities which are responsible for educating those who will plan and operate manufacturing systems. Working groups were formed to identify issues and recommend actions for those in the public and private sectors responsible for ensuring the match between educational institutions and the needs of industry. The symposium's presentations and papers are organized in the report in three sections. These include: (1) papers (examining the engineer, the changed face of manufacturing and education and industrial needs); (2) a panel discussion (containing presentations on corporate attitudes toward introducing new manufacturing technology); and (3) working group reports (addressing concerns in structuring the manufacturing education system, industry-university cooperation in education and research, manufacturing careers and priorities in manufacturing education). Appendices include a register of symposium participants, a selected bibliography and a statement of the purpose of the symposium. (ML) Examines the issues involving the changing face of US manufacturing, requirements for educating and training engineers for manufacturing careers, and the possibilities for cooperative arrangements between industry and academia. This volume draws from a symposium convened by the National Academy of Engineering and the National Research Council.