Learning Aerospace Design and Manufacturing Processes to Demonstrate ABET Program Objectives

This paper, from members of the Department of Aviation Technology at Purdue University, profiles a new course "that was created in the fall of 2007 as part of a curriculum change seeking engineering accreditation from the Technology Accreditation Commission (TAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) for Purdue University's Aviation Technology (AT) Department." The course, "Aircraft Advanced Process," has students, in groups of three to five, designing and manufacturing aircraft components as if they are employees of a company working for a simulated customer. Students are responsible for meeting the needs of the customer by successfully designing and manufacturing a satisfactory aircraft component by the end of the semester. The students learn team dynamics, advanced manufacturing processes, engineering design processes, and client-to-customer communication processes. The paper concludes by discussing the learning outcomes of AT408 and how they fit the criteria established by the ABET committee as a component of the Aviation Technology department's new ABET curriculum.