The importance of computer-based subject matter topics for graduates of an undergraduate manufacturing technology program as perceived by practicing manufacturing engineers

The problem of this study was to identify the perceptions of practicing manufacturing engineers regarding the importance of computer-based subject matter topics required for graduates of undergraduate manufacturing technology programs. This problem is reflective of the literature which indicates that there is a need for the further development of manufacturing science curricula in order to provide the types of knowledge needed in the emerging computer-based manufacturing field. A questionnaire was used to collect data. It was mailed to 425 randomly selected practicing manufacturing engineers. Thirteen were returned as undeliverable, thus reducing the number to 412. The size of the sample was 246. The study had a response rate of 59.71% The twenty-four computer-based subject matter topics were the dependent variables. The independent variables were type of product manufactured, number of employees at work site, amount of industrial experience, education level, and hiring activity. Data were analyzed using the SPSSX computer program and the level of significance was set at.05. Three procedures were used to analyze the data: calculation of the means and standard deviation; one-tailed t test; and one-way analysis of variance. Seven of the 24 computer-based subject matter topics were perceived as important by the respondents. They were: (a) computer aided product design, (b) automated assembly, (c) computer aided grinding, milling, bending, turning, and other operations, (d) computer aided numerical control, (e) computerized controls of bills of materials, (f) computer aided production planning and control, and computer aided process control. Standard Industrial Classification (type of product manufactured) and number of employees (indicator of plant size) were the only independent variables which had significant F statistics, indicating their effect on the perceptions of respondents regarding the important topics. Automated assembly had significant differences in its values resulting from its relationship with Standard Industrial Classification. Computer aided product design, computer aided process control and automated assembly had values which differed significantly in their relationship with number of employees. It was recommended that administrators of manufacturing programs should consider including in their curricula the important computer-based subject matter topics identified in this study