Advanced Four Pillars of Manufacturing Knowledge

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

6-23-2024

Department

Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics

Abstract

The Four Pillars of Manufacturing Knowledge, first published in 2011, has been undergoing a revision process to encompass the changing landscape of advanced manufacturing, such as incorporating Industry 4.0 concepts. In 2021, a sample population of manufacturing experts from industry, government, and the academy were surveyed from the SME (the Society of Manufacturing Engineers) database. The existing twelve blocks of knowledge were presented to those surveyed, with the option for the respondent to either keep, remove, or edit the topics in each. Suggestions for additional topics (missing elements) in each knowledge block were also collected in the survey.

After the completion of the survey and subsequent data analysis, an organized process was used to validate the suggested revisions to the knowledge blocks. Academic, industry, and government expert members from the SME Manufacturing Education and Accreditation Committee reviewed and distilled the survey results into a format to present to the manufacturing community for their input. Workshops were delivered at the 2023 ASEE, SME, and ATMAE conferences to provide feedback on the Four Pillar revisions. An interactive SME webpage was used to collect input from attendees of the conference workshops to refine the topics in each knowledge block further.

The initial survey, subsequent revisions, and a year-long validation process have resulted in an updated version of the Four Pillars of Manufacturing Knowledge ready for dissemination. This revised version of the Four Pillars is aligned with the original purpose. It is intended to be used by industry and academia to represent the breadth and scope of manufacturing engineering based on accreditation criteria and SME Certification Body of Knowledge. Because this scope is a moving target, the intention is to continually revisit the topics in the knowledge blocks annually, considering the continuous input from manufacturing experts.

The revision process resulted in changes to eleven of the twelve knowledge blocks. The only knowledge block without changes was Mathematics and Science. The Automated Systems and Control knowledge block, renamed as Industry 4.0 and Automated Systems and Control, included the most revised topics with just two topics remaining unchanged. Process Design is another area that experienced major revisions with topics such as Digital Twin and Computer Aided Process Planning.

Overall, this paper presents the facts of the revised four foundational pillars of manufacturing engineering. By comprehensively exploring these pillars, we aim to provide a holistic understanding of the multifaceted nature of manufacturing engineering and its pivotal role in driving innovation, efficiency, and sustainability in modern industry. Through ongoing research and collaboration, we strive to further advance these pillars, contributing to the continual evolution and enhancement of manufacturing practices worldwide. The aim is for the Advanced Four Pillars to be a living document with periodic reviews to remain current.

Publication Title

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

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