The Four Pillars of Manufacturing Knowledge: A Contemporary Perspective on Practical Implementation

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Fall 2025

Department

Department of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology; Department of Applied Computing

Abstract

The Four Pillars of Manufacturing Knowledge has undergone a substantial revision to encompass the changing landscape of advanced manufacturing, incorporating concepts such as Industry 4.0, Additive Manufacturing (AM), etc. This revised version of the Four Pillars is aligned with the original purpose to be used by industry and academia to represent the breadth and scope of manufacturing engineering based on accreditation criteria and SME’s Body of Knowledge for the Certified Manufacturing Engineer and Technologist (CMfgE and CMfgT). The revised Four Pillars has changes in eleven of the twelve knowledge blocks. The Automated Systems and Control knowledge block, now renamed as Industry 4.0 and Automated Systems and Control, included the most revised topics, with only two remaining unchanged. Process Design is another knowledge block that went through major revisions with the addition of digital manufacturing topics such as: Digital Twin and Computer Aided Process Planning. Overall, this paper presents each of the new and revised topics to gain a better understanding of the implications for ongoing research and education in manufacturing worldwide. Practical examples of teaching methods, as well as laboratory applications, are provided for some of the topics that are most critical to the future of the manufacturing industry.

Publication Title

Journal of Engineering Technology

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