Weber State University   

Manufacturing/Mechanical Engineering Technology

Manufacturing Engineering Technology

Results of Assessment

2001-2002 (submitted 11/05/02)

The MFET Program looked closely at all five of the following outcomes:

1. MFET students will demonstrate effective technical communication skills, both written and oral.
2. MFET students will demonstrate mastery of knowledge and technical skills gained in the major.
3. MFET students will demonstrate technical competency in Manufacturing Engineering activities.
4. MFET students will demonstrate the ability to function as a member of a project team with good problem solving skills.
5. MFET students will demonstrate skill in quality assurance, process planning, scheduling, cost estimating, and project management using commercial computer applications.

The program used several instruments and measures to assess these outcomes. These included Alumni/Employer Surveys, faculty course evaluation comments, oral surveys conducted in selected Junior and Senior classes, normal course assessments and feedback from the MFET program Industrial Advisory Committee. The data gathered was in the form of numerical ratings from surveys and oral and written comments. The data gathered indicated that changes needed to made in two major areas of the MFET curriculum.

The first was in the area of Senior Project and related courses. Senior Project is one of the best all around indicators of how MFET students are doing with regards to the five outcomes listed above. In a comprehensive way, students are required to demonstrate their mastery of the knowledge and skills they have learned from course requirements by successfully completing a year long project. Specifically, students are required demonstrate their knowledge of project management, cost estimating, production management principles and communication skills. In conducting the outcomes assessment it was evident that there were several problems that needed to be addressed.. One of the problems was in the area of course sequencing. Project management and production management principles were not addressed in course work until the last semester of their senior year. However, project management is one of the first required activities in Senior Project. Secondly, the term project in MFET 4210 Cost Estimating was specifically geared towards fulfilling the cost estimating requirements in Senior Project. Many students were taking the course in advance of Senior Project which caused duplication of work and often considerable review on the part of the students. It was also evident from the feedback received that faculty needed to require more of students in the preparation and delivery of their two required presentations.

The second concern was in the area of Quality. The MFET curriculum included two general courses in Quality. However, feedback from alumni and industry indicated that a more thorough study of quality principles and tools was needed.

Multiple meetings and discussions we held among the MFET faculty throughout the year concerning theses two areas. Based upon these discussion and the data gathered through assessment, changes were made to the curriculum. In the area of Senior Project, two new course were created. The first was MFET 4610. This is a five credit hour course that combines the principles formerly taught in MFET 4210 - Cost Estimating and MFET 4590 - Production Planning and Process Control. Students now need to qualify and be admitted to Senior Project before they can register for the course. Students complete assignments in the course based upon requirements from the project they are assigned to. For example, when project management is covered in class, students are required to set up their particular project activity in Microsoft Project (Project Management software). A 2 credit hour course MFET 4610L was created as co-requisite to MFET 4610. The actual project work is accomplished in this course. To address the communication concern, students are now required to use the software program called Power Point in their presentations to the faculty. These presentations are also video taped to provide feedback to the students.

To address the Quality concern, a series of three courses were created that build upon each other. The first course in the series is MFET 2410. It covers the philosophy of the Quality founders such as Deming, Juran, Crosby and others. It also introduces students to basic statistics and the use of Excel spreadsheets and MINI-TAB software in various quality applications. MFET 3810 covers principles of statistical process control and reliability. The third course in the series is MFET 3910 which covers the principles and tools of Six Sigma.

These changes will be implemented throughout this coming year. These courses and their content will be assessed as to their effectiveness and further improvement will undoubtedly be made the following year.

Effective January 2003, student outcomes for the MFET program will increase from five to eleven to reflect changes in the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) criteria. The focus of the new ABET criteria is on student outcomes and continuous improvement of the program. The eleven student outcomes are as follows:

A graduate of the Weber State University Manufacturing Engineering Technology (MFET) program will be able to:

1. Demonstrate appropriate mastery of knowledge, skills and modern tools in the discipline.
2. Apply current knowledge and adapt to emerging applications of mathematics, science, engineering and technology.
3. Conduct, analyze and interpret experiments and apply experimental results to improve processes.
4. Apply creativity to design of systems, components and processes.
5. Function effectively on teams.
6. Identify, analyze and solve technical problems.
7. Communicate effectively.
8. Recognize the need for and possess the ability to pursue lifelong learning.
9. Understand professional, ethical and social responsibilities.
10. Respect diversity and recognize professional, societal and global issues.
11. Have a commitment to quality, timeliness and continuous improvement.

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