The Good, Bad, and the Ugly of the Divide Between Engineering and Engineering Technology

Engineering technology programs in U.S colleges and universities were established by the 1970s. Their separate existence from engineering has resulted in mixed outcomes—some good, some bad, and some outright ugly. By ugly we mean the confusions generated by the divide between engineering and engineering technology. In this paper, critical analysis of the good, the bad, and the ugly is presented. It begins with a brief history of engineering technology as a discipline, discusses the current situation, points out the fact that few advanced countries practice such a divide, and offers some suggestions for improvement.

Future of Engineering Technology Education

Engineering technology education in the United States can trace its history back to the Wickenden and Spahr study of 1931, which identified the place of engineering technology education in the technical spectrum [1]. By 1945, the Engineering Council for Professional Development developed the first accreditation procedures for two-year engineering technology programs and by 1946, the first program was accredited. On this timeline the Purdue University engineering technology programs at Indianapolis can trace their history back to 1946 [2]. Over the last 70 years, engineering technology education in the United States has distinguished itself by a history of evolution, development and continuous improvement. Engineering technology education faces significant challenges during the next several years. These challenges are driven by the rapid evolution of computer technology and changing expectations of the educational process by the stakeholders. Stakeholders include not only students and faculty but also various groups in both the public and private sectors including industry, professional organizations, funding agencies, state government and the university system. Two specific challenges facing engineering technology educators are ‘basic faculty credentials’ and changing expectations for ‘creative activities’. These two challenges can be delineated by the following questions: • Will a doctorate degree be necessary for engineering technology faculty in the future for promotion and tenure in the university environment? • Will applied research or pedagogical research be ‘good enough’ for tenure? This paper addresses these two issues using a study of current engineering technology faculty hiring practices as a basis. Ultimately, critical future discussions must occur as engineering technology education continues to evolve and move into the future.

Building Effective Bridges Between Academic Departments and Admissions Staff

This paper describes a successful collaboration between the Chairman of an Engineering Technology Department and the Admissions and Enrollment administrator, each looking for increased enrollment. The focus will include the strategic advantages and the practical logistics of the coordinated recruiting program. Specific examples and recommendations will be provided to assist in adapting this program to other institutions.

Cutting Computation Time and Mastering the Underlying Science of Introductory Thermodynamics

Traditionally, the teaching and learning of introductory undergraduate Thermodynamics in Mechanical Engineering programs stressed the manipulation of formulas and the use of property tables. At present, the use of computer-based instruction is becoming more common in the classroom and it is proving to be a valuable tool for enhancing the educational experience of students. In teaching Thermodynamics, for example, much of the tedious manipulative and computational work encountered while solving problems can now be effectively and quickly executed by computer software. This approach leaves ample time for instructors to emphasize concepts and principles instead of procedures, and to foster an environment that helps students to master the underlying science of the discipline while minimizing computational burden. A comparative study between teaching introductory Thermodynamics using a traditional approach versus using the software EES (acronym for Engineering Equation Solver) as a computational tool is presented in this paper. A statistical comparison of academic performance in introductory Thermodynamics between two groups of engineering students of comparable academic level and capability but enrolled in different schools is also part of this study. Qualitative and quantitative results suggest that students can achieve a clearer understanding of concepts, definitions and principles of introductory Thermodynamics when using computer software as a tool in their learning process.

Modernization of the Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering Laboratories: Upgrading Educational CIM Cells Involving Students and Faculty

This paper reports the process of upgrade and enhancement of the Educational CIM Cell at Northern Kentucky University (NKU). The upgrade is part of the laboratory experiments in the Automated Manufacturing Systems Course at NKU. The goal of this paper is to increase students’ practical experience, upgrade the equipments in house, save cost, and reduce the technical dependency on an outside company. In this project Allen-Bradley SLC 100 PLC and Allen-Bradley SLC 150 will be upgraded with a new Allen-Bradley PLC and Panelview operator interface. Comprehensive effort are made to incorporate what has been learned in the MET program to design, manufacture a part, and use robotics and programmed interface for placement onto a conveyor. After the part is placed on the conveyor it will be transferred to a location where the part will be accepted or rejected. Personal computers will be interfaced for simulation, and to actual hardware for control and automation of typical manufacturing operations and industrial processes. This concept of an integrated laboratory system will allow expanded coverage of traditional controls topics and permit introduction of appropriately advanced control techniques including adaptive control for machining operations. This method of modernizing is shown to be more effective than modernizing by a turnkey upgrade of the laboratory Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) facilities.

Block Cycle Fatigue Life Simulation and Correlation With Test for an Automotive Hood Latch-Supporting Component

This paper describes the durability analysis procedure and fatigue life simulation of an automotive hood latch-supporting component under block cycle loads. The first step is to apply linear stress analysis to identify the regions with high possibility of failure. The bent cove section of the latch support and the upper bolt-edge on a tie bar connecting to the latch support are determined as the critical regions. The strain-life/signed von Mises stress approach is then used to perform the fatigue analysis at these critical regions. The predicted fatigue life is about 3 times of the experimental one. However, the experiment shows that a crack appears exactly at the bent cove section of the latch support as simulation predicted. This project also serves as a case study to the students in predicting fatigue failure of a real industrial part.

Teaching Design and Automation Principles Through a National Robotics Competition

An innovative method for teaching senior project course has been discussed. The method involves use of seniors as mentors for a team of high school students participating in a national robotic competition. The experience offered students an opportunity to lead teams during design and fabrication of various components of the robot while meeting specific deadlines. Students learnt the principles of design and automation while teaching their high school counterparts.

Leading an Academic Department Through a Period of Dramatic Change

An academic department can be a complex organization and one that requires specific attention and skills to manage properly. Like any organization, there are forces that tend an academic department toward change and countering forces that tend to maintain the status quo. The dynamics of these issues during a time of fast moving and dramatic change are important and, quite often, misunderstood.

Computer Aided Bearing Design and Analysis

I have written a program using visual basic called Bearing Design. Students in a machine elements course will use the program to size and select bearings. The program is written to aid students in the understanding of bearing design. The program is part of a series of programs used to assist the students in learning how to design and select machine components. Some of the other programs used are Designing Spur Gears and Sizing Belt Drives Components.

Integrating Optimal Truss Design Methodologies Into Mechanical Engineering Technology

The author has previously shown that single criterion optimization methodologies can be effectively integrated into lower-division mechanical engineering technology courses using single beam elements and a variety of load cases. In that paper, multiple methodologies of varying beam cross-section to minimize weight of the beam or to approach a constant stress state in the beam were described and their use investigated. This paper describes the application of these single criterion optimization methodologies to multiple-part assemblies, specifically engineering trusses. Although the optimization methodologies are similar, they are all far more complex in multiple-part assemblies than in single beam element optimization problem. The truss optimization theory, analysis, and testing that were utilized in the classroom and laboratory will be discussed in this paper. The correlation between optimization results from both spreadsheet solver and finite element analysis (FEA) solutions is presented. Also, the subsequent correlation between the analysis results and the experimental verification from photoelastic studies of prototype trusses is presented.