Adapt. Improvise, Overcome

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Adapt. Improvise, Overcome

• Meeting the Challenges of Todays Manufacturing
  Technology Class

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Welcome

• The purpose of this session is to
  facilitate/encourage conversation around the
  current state of manufacturing technology in our
  schools
• My name is Paul Fraser and Im a curriculum chair
  for technology, business, and computer science
• My background

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Impact!

• 517,000 Ontario jobs at risk
• Manufacturing price index declines
• Auto slump drags manufacturing down
• Manufacturing sales stumble
• Tooling firms plead for auto aid
• CAW warns plants could go south
• Auto workers crumple at each economic blow
• Manufacturing sector on the brink of collapse
  CME president
• 239,100 jobs gone for good'

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Challenges

• Global economy and competition
• Industry is moving away from primary fabrication
  and more towards product assembly and finishing
• Shrinking industry base in Ontario
• Lower enrolment in our programs
• Older equipment
• Idle rooms

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Curriculum

• Definition of manufacturing
• The process of converting raw materials,
  components, or parts into finished goods that
  meet a customer's expectations or specifications.
  Manufacturing commonly employs a man-machine
  setup with division of labor in a large scale
  production.

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Curriculum Documents

• Overview
• Manufacturing is the transformation of materials
  into products to meet human needs and wants. In
  todays global economy, manufacturing is the
  foundation of a nations wealth and power.
• These courses provide students with
  opportunities to acquire the knowledge and skills
  needed to understand, use, and manage
  manufacturing systems. They will also help
  students understand
• the role of manufacturing technology in our
  economy its relationship to other economic
  sectors and its effects on people, society, and
  the environment. Their study of manufacturing
  technology will prepare students for change and
  for making critical decisions regarding the
  future.

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What We Do Well

• Develop skills
• Provide a well educated work force
• Our students are good problem solvers
• Extensive and focused apprenticeship, co-op, and
  special programs (SHSM)

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Changing The FocusOverview

• Ontario has a very strong advanced manufacturing
  sector (automotive, telecommunications,
  electronics, computers, aerospace, chemicals,
  plastics, transportation, and food processing)
  that not only utilizes traditional skills, but
  also advanced techniques associated with CNC and
  Robotics
• Industry is looking for and needs creative
  problem solvers who can apply their skills at all
  levels of an organization

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Meeting The Challenge Changing The Focus

• We need to
• Broaden the knowledge base of our students, and
  not just concentrate on skill development e.g.
  the role of the manufacturing technologist/enginee
  r
• Work with our colleagues and industry partners to
  become more cross curricular e.g. integrate more
  business and environmental science into our
  programs
• Create a more questioning attitude e.g. not
  just how to create this part, but what impact
  will it have locally, nationally, globally. How
  can we do It better (methods engineering)

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Meeting the ChallengeThe Classroom

• Tech teachers are creative. We are very good at
  making do with what we have
• It is easy to get caught up in the day to day
  routine and postpone thinking about tomorrow. We
  have to make the time to think about how we can
  change and adapt to the current and future needs
  of the students, industry, and community
• Equipment
• We have to think about not just what the
  equipment is for, but what can it be used for

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Meeting the ChallengeThe Classroom

• Partnerships
• Explore, expand, and investigate more community
  and industry involvement
• Guest speakers, tours, donations, projects
• Become leaders and advocates
• Develop a relationship with the elementary panel.
  Develop projects that would benefit and
  encourage elementary students to take tech in
  high school (almost like a SHSM reach ahead)
• Funding
• Explore potential revenue sources e.g. Ministry
  initiatives, local partnerships, providing a
  service

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Personal Example

• When I started to teach manufacturing, I used the
  same techniques that my teachers used everyone
  was taught the same skills and created the same
  project. Theory was confined to the operation of
  the equipment and the material. A narrow focus.
  The students became very good at manufacturing
  the product, but had little or no knowledge of
  how a manufacturing organization worked.

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Personal Example

• Although the students achieved a satisfactory
  level of success, being new from industry I felt
  something was missing. That summer I revamped my
  content and methodology to include a broader
  manufacturing focus. I introduced concepts that
  relate to the operation of a typical
  manufacturing organization

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Personal Example

• E.g. process planning (how something moves
  through production), methods engineering, cost
  control, production control, efficiency
  calculations, quality assurance. Along with
  this, I also gave the students more input re
  project choices. Recently (within the last couple
  years), I have introduced global issues and how
  they affect the local and national economy (I
  work in Oshawa). To help with this, I often have
  the economics and business teachers in as guest
  speakers.

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Personal Example

• The results have been favourable. The students
  continue to develop skills, but have become more
  aware of how manufacturing works and its impact.
  This has enhanced their problem solving
  abilities as they consider a bigger picture e.g.
  improved an operation and retrain personnel
  instead of laying off or what is the impact to
  the community

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Personal Example

• Next steps for me include more interaction with
  local business, which should result in
  partnerships.
• Many of you are already doing this, and have your
  own stories to relate, this is why sharing of
  best practices is essential

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The Future

• As the focus of society becomes more
  environmental based, so will the jobs and careers
• Sustainable design and construction
• Renewable Energy
• Wind power
• Solar power
• Research and Development
• Alternative fuels
• Hybrid vehicles
• Geo Thermal energy
• Fuel Cell technology

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Resources

• http//www.thestar.com/article/584410--manufacture
  rs-look-to-future
• http//brantrenewable.ca/node/33
• http//heshomeenergy.com/news/?p385
• http//www2.macleans.ca/2011/09/21/economy-up-off-
  the-factory-floor/
• http//www.sse.gov.on.ca/medt/investinontario/en/P
  ages/brochures_advancedmanufacturing.aspx
• http//www.ontariocanada.com/ontcan/1medt/download
  s/sector_2pgr_auto2_en.pdf
• http//www.techtriangle.com/include/get.php?nodeid
  231

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Questions, Discussion, Next Steps

• Sharing of best practices and general discussion
• If you would like to share ideas and receive an
  update, I can be contacted at paul.fraser_at_dcdsb.ca