Simulation is a powerful tool in developing and troubleshooting manufacturing processes, particularly when considering process flows for manufacturing systems that do not yet exist. Simulation can bridge the gap in terms of setting up full-scale manufacturing for nanotechnology products if limited production experience is an issue. An effective…

Manufacturing professionals within universities tend to view manufacturing systems from a global perspective. This perspective tends to assume that manufacturing processes are employed equally in every manufacturing enterprise, irrespective of the geography and the needs of the people in those diverse regions. But in reality local and societal…

Describes the following aspects of the National Association of Industrial Technology: purpose, objectives, membership, historical development, administrative organization, structure, and future directions. (SK)

At Iowa State University, industrial technology students participate in learning communities that include an introductory course; out-of-class activities; peer, faculty, and industrial mentors; and holistic assessment. Although worthwhile, learning communities require significant time and resources, and better technology-related holistic measures…

Regional officers of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (n=44, 50% response) identified important components of a Master in Industrial Technology program. Technical and research content as well as the combination of technical and managerial skills received the highest ratings. Results suggest areas to include and to avoid in developing…

Describes components of Kolb's learning styles model and the results of administration of Kolb's Learning Style Inventory to 52 industrial technology students. Matches teaching activities to styles and advocates a balanced instructional delivery system. (Contains 19 references.) (SK)

In the last several decades, the United States has experienced a decline in productivity, while the world has seen a maturation of the global marketplace. Nations have moved manufacturing strategy and process technology issues to the top of management priority lists. The issues surrounding manufacturing technologies and their implementations have…

A survey of industrial technology graduates from Bemidji State (n=30) and Purdue (n=100) compared job titles. The majority were either engineers or managers/supervisors. Graduates of both a more structured program and one with more liberal education requirements had similar jobs. (SK)

Special issue includes "Creativity at the Workplace" (Donnelly); "Creativity Revisited" (Iandoli); interviews with 16 people who work in or teach industrial engineering, software, and graphic design; "On Creativity and Schooling" (Coppola, Iandoli); and "End Notes: What I Learned" (Iandoli). (SK)

A class of 71 industrial technology students was divided into either self-selected (homogeneous) work groups or randomly assigned (heterogeneous) groups. The heterogeneous groups had significantly better peer ratings and adjusted scores on their work tasks, but not better raw scores. Despite evidence of higher achievement in random groups,…

In Bensen and Paige's survey of 22 industrial/technology education faculty and 81 graduates, more graduates than faculty believed that leadership attributes should receive more attention in doctoral programs. Bjorkquist and others' responses from 55 of 69 members of the Mississippi Valley Industrial Teacher Education Conference identified…