Journal Ol Mant~/'acturing Systems Volume 5/No. 2

university education. This paper offers the concept of modules serving for drawing up new forms of education.

Lifelong Education and Training The round table discussion on Lifelong Educa-

tion and Training covered relevant principles and aspects for retraining workers and professionals for future tasks in flexible manufacturing systems. Four panelists from the United States, the United King- dom, and Czechoslovakia gave introductory expla- nations and views.

Z. Kozar and A. Fisher of the Research Insti- tute VUSTE, Praha, discussed "Aspects of Prepar- ing People for their Changing Role in an Auto- mated Machined- Tool Building Factory".

M.F. DeVries, President of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, and G.O. Minton explain "The Role of a Professional Society in the Estab- lishment and Support of Manufacturing Systems Engineering Education". The discussion begins with a brief description of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and highlights its overall mission to the manufacturing community. Special attention is given to the Society programs that are in direct support of the educational community. These pro- grams are grouped into three categories: precollege, college and university, and continuing education. The paper continues with a discussion of issues affecting the modern manufacturing environment. The phenomenal growth in the number of academic programs in manufacturing systems engineering is noted along with information profiling their charac- teristics. Finally, recommendations are presented which suggest how cooperative efforts between industry, academia, and professional societies can promote and support the growth of manufacturing systems engineering education.

"Academic Programs Developed for CIM Sys- tem Engineering" by C.W. LeMaistre and R.

DeVries reveal the efforts of the Rensselaer Poly- technic Institute (RPI) to establish an innovative educational approach to meet the requirements of C I M. One of the challenges facing academic research institutes is how to educate engineers to design, implement, and operate CIM systems. To do this will require strengths in already established disci- plines, but more importantly, the broad perspective of the CI M system as a whole. Because CIM systems are still new, practical experience in putting them together is seen as an integral part of the education process.

This paper presents RPI's multidisciplinary approach to the education of engineers for CIM. The emphasis is both on undergraduate and masters degree options in manufacturing systems engineer- ing, and how these academic programs are linked to the activities in RPI's centers where programs and research projects addressing the architecture, soft- ware, hardware, and their integration as CIM sys- tems are underway.

A. Pierce and R. Wild introduce "The Brunel Manufacturing Engineering Programme (BME)" as an integrated, four-year, thin sandwich, undergrad- uate development program. The authors explain in great detail the philosophy, structure and content of courses offered to part-time students already work- ing in the industry.

Concluding this report, it should be stated that at the seminar it became very clear that the future factory will stand or fall with innovative educated engineers and other professionals mastering theor- etical disciplines and practical skills relevant to CIM. These objectives can only be achieved if the universities and technical schools will respond in an appropriate way. In this context, lifelong education is imperative.

The papers presented at the 17th CIRP Seminar on Manufacturing Systems will be published in full in the CIRP Proceedings on Manufacturing Sys t ems .

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