Plastics Engineering Education

1
Plastics Engineering Education

• David Kazmer
• Professor
• Univ. Mass. Lowell

2
The Classic Three Domains
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The Curriculum
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Three Different Domains
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Plastics EngineersCompetency Analysis
Adapted from the Journal of Engineering Technology
Specialization Differentiation
Business Knowledge
Supply Chain Mgt.
International Perspective
Integrated Systems
Increasing Leadership
Engineering Fundamentals
Materials
Processing
Design
Oral Written Communication
Teamwork
Project Management
Problem Solving
Personal Attributes
Increasing Learning Across Time
6
Plastics EngineersCompetency Gaps
Adapted from the Journal of Engineering Technology
Specialization Differentiation
Business Knowledge
Supply Chain Mgt.
International Perspective
Integrated Systems
Increasing Leadership
Engineering Fundamentals
Materials
Processing
Design
Oral Written Communication
Teamwork
Project Management
Problem Solving
Personal Attributes
Increasing Learning Across Time
7
Conclusions

• Plastics Engineering is doing better than general
  engineering technology programs
• Emphasis on communication teamwork allows us to
  outperform average programs
• Focus on plastics allows us to outperform w.r.t.
  processing integrated design
• Areas of improvement
• Business, project, supply chain management
• Focused specialization for personal growth

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Some Thoughts on Mfg. Eng.

• Chancellor is reorganizing manufacturing area
• Allocation of resources unclear
• Has hired Ed March, Lucent Executive as Director
• Proposal from Mechanical Plastics Depts.
• Form MS Program from existing courses
• Possible Plastics Engineering Courses