Adapt. Improvise,
Overcome
Meeting the Challenges of
Today’s Manufacturing
Technology Class
Welcome
• The purpose of this session is to
facilitate/encourage conversation around
the current state of manufacturing
technology in our schools
• My name is Paul Fraser and I’m a
curriculum chair for technology, business,
and computer science
• My background:
Impact!
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517,000 Ontario jobs at risk
Manufacturing price index declines
Auto slump drags manufacturing down
Manufacturing sales stumble
Tooling firms plead for auto aid
CAW warns plants could go south
Auto workers crumple at each economic blow
Manufacturing sector on the brink of collapse:
CME president
239,100 jobs `gone for good'
Challenges
Global economy and competition
 Industry is moving away from primary
fabrication and more towards product
assembly and finishing
 Shrinking industry base in Ontario
 Lower enrolment in our programs
 Older equipment
 Idle rooms
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Curriculum
Definition of manufacturing
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The process of converting raw materials,
components, or parts into finished goods
that meet a customer's expectations or
specifications. Manufacturing commonly
employs a man-machine setup with
division of labor in a large scale
production.
Curriculum Documents
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Overview
Manufacturing is the transformation of materials into products to
meet human needs and wants. In today’s global economy,
manufacturing is the foundation of a nation’s wealth and power.
These courses provide students with opportunities to acquire the
knowledge and skills needed to understand, use, and manage
manufacturing systems. They will also help students understand
the role of manufacturing technology in our economy; its
relationship to other economic sectors; and its effects on people,
society, and the environment. Their study of manufacturing
technology will prepare students for change and for making critical
decisions regarding the future.
What We Do Well
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Develop skills
Provide a well educated work force
Our students are good problem solvers
Extensive and focused apprenticeship, coop, and special programs (SHSM)
Changing The Focus
Overview
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Ontario has a very strong advanced
manufacturing sector (automotive,
telecommunications, electronics, computers,
aerospace, chemicals, plastics, transportation,
and food processing) that not only utilizes
traditional skills, but also advanced techniques
associated with CNC and Robotics
Industry is looking for and needs creative
problem solvers who can apply their skills at all
levels of an organization
Meeting The Challenge
Changing The Focus
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We need to:
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Broaden the knowledge base of our students, and not
just concentrate on skill development e.g. the role of
the manufacturing technologist/engineer
Work with our colleagues and industry partners to
become more cross curricular e.g. integrate more
business and environmental science into our
programs
Create a more “questioning” attitude e.g. not just
how to create this part, but what impact will it have
locally, nationally, globally. How can we do It better
(methods engineering)
Meeting the Challenge
The Classroom
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Tech teachers are creative. We are very
good at “making do” with what we have
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It is easy to get caught up in the day to day
routine and postpone thinking about tomorrow.
We have to make the time to think about how we
can change and adapt to the current and future
needs of the students, industry, and community
Equipment:
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We have to think about not just what the
equipment is for, but what can it be used for
Meeting the Challenge
The Classroom
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Partnerships:
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Become leaders and advocates
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Explore, expand, and investigate more community and
industry involvement
Guest speakers, tours, donations, projects
Develop a relationship with the elementary panel. Develop
projects that would benefit and encourage elementary
students to take tech in high school (almost like a SHSM
reach ahead)
Funding
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Explore potential revenue sources e.g. Ministry initiatives,
local partnerships, providing a service
Personal Example
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When I started to teach manufacturing, I used
the same techniques that my teachers used;
everyone was taught the same skills and created
the same project. Theory was confined to the
operation of the equipment and the material. A
narrow focus. The students became very good
at manufacturing the product, but had little or
no knowledge of how a manufacturing
organization worked.
Personal Example
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Although the students achieved a satisfactory
level of success, being new from industry I felt
something was missing. That summer I
revamped my content and methodology to
include a broader manufacturing focus. I
introduced concepts that relate to the operation
of a typical manufacturing organization
Personal Example
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E.g. process planning (how something moves through
production), methods engineering, cost control,
production control, efficiency calculations, quality
assurance. Along with this, I also gave the students
more input re: project choices. Recently (within the last
couple years), I have introduced global issues and how
they affect the local and national economy (I work in
Oshawa). To help with this, I often have the economics
and business teachers in as guest speakers.
Personal Example
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The results have been favourable. The students
continue to develop skills, but have become
more aware of how manufacturing works and
it’s impact. This has enhanced their problem
solving abilities as they consider a bigger picture
e.g. improved an operation and retrain personnel
instead of laying off or what is the impact to the
community
Personal Example
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Next steps for me include more interaction with
local business, which should result in
partnerships.
Many of you are already doing this, and have
your own stories to relate, this is why sharing of
best practices is essential
The Future
 As the focus of society becomes more
environmental based, so will the jobs and
careers
 Sustainable design and construction
 Renewable Energy
 Wind power
 Solar power
 Research and Development
 Alternative fuels
 Hybrid vehicles
 Geo Thermal energy
 Fuel Cell technology
Resources
 http://www.thestar.com/article/584410--manufacturerslook-to-future
 http://brantrenewable.ca/node/33
 http://heshomeenergy.com/news/?p=385
 http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/09/21/economy-up-offthe-factory-floor/
 http://www.sse.gov.on.ca/medt/investinontario/en/Page
s/brochures_advancedmanufacturing.aspx
 http://www.ontariocanada.com/ontcan/1medt/download
s/sector_2pgr_auto2_en.pdf
 http://www.techtriangle.com/include/get.php?nodeid=2
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Questions, Discussion,
Next Steps
• Sharing of best practices and
general discussion
• If you would like to share ideas
and receive an update, I can be
contacted at
paul.fraser@dcdsb.ca