Infusing Advanced Manufacturing into Undergraduate Engineering Education. Consensus Study Report

Cutting-edge technologies are reshaping manufacturing in the United States and around the world, with applications from medicine to defense. If the United States wants to further build upon these new innovations, the next generation of engineers must be trained to work in advanced manufacturing from the undergraduate level and beyond. Infusing Advanced Manufacturing into Undergraduate Engineering Education examines advanced manufacturing techniques for the defense industry and explores how undergraduate engineering programs can better develop advanced manufacturing capabilities in the workforce. This report discusses how industry can contribute to engineering programs and the role that government can play by including undergraduate engineering students in their manufacturing initiatives. The report gives specific guidance on ways to incorporate experiential learning emphasizing advanced manufacturing and strengthen ties between academia, industry, and government through mentoring and internship programs. [Contributors to the report include: Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences; National Materials and Manufacturing Board; Committee on Strengthening the Talent for National Defense: Infusing Advanced Manufacturing in Engineering Education.]