Technical core competencies for computer-integrated manufacturing technicians

Abstract

Manufacturing technology is rapidly changing. The use of computer integrated manufacturing technologies to increase competitiveness and improve quality has proliferated. To adequately prepare the workforce of tomorrow, education must identify the technical core competencies needed by technicians entering the workforce.

The purpose of this study was to identify the competencies that should be included in a curriculum for computer integrated manufacturing technicians. A three round modified Delphi Technique was used to gather the data.

Fourteen technical core competencies were identified by a focus group of manufacturing professionals. A panel of 25 experts was nominated to review and add to the identified technical core competencies during the three rounds of the study. Twenty-seven competencies were added during the first round of the study. A median consensus was achieved on 41 technical core competencies.

The Expert Panel was comprised of education and industry experts. The rating of the competencies by the education and industry experts as important to the curriculum and the priority rating for the implementation of the competencies into the curriculum was compared. A Mann-Whitney test of independence revealed that there was no significant difference (alpha =.05) between the two groups in the rating of the technical core competencies as important to the curriculum. Further, the chi-square test indicated that there was no significant difference (alpha =.05) between the two groups in the priority rating of the technical core competencies for implementation into a curriculum for computer integrated manufacturing technicians.

The study concluded that a core of technical competencies was identified and that the industry and education experts agreed on which competencies were most important to the curriculum for CIM technicians. Moreover, the industry and education experts agreed on the priority for implementation of the competencies into the curriculum.

In order to improve and update manufacturing education in the United States, it was recommended that the identified competencies be implemented into current manufacturing curricula. Finally, it was recommended that continued research be conducted in order to maintain world leadership in manufacturing through education.