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Externship Summary - 2006

RCNGM Leader: Eric Rice, Physics, Project Lead the Way, New London SE CT Science & Tech Magnet School

Externship: Pratt and Whitney, United Technologies, Inc.)

(Go to this link to find out about the curriculum project)

Lessons Learned:

The most useful learning component of my externship was learning how “lean manufacturingâ€� has created a very efficient manufacturing environment at Pratt where innovation and process efficiency is common practice.    Business methodology, such as process control and analysis were central to ensuring efficient processes. The overall way of doing business at Pratt and Whitney was totally governed by their “ACEâ€� program. Pratt and Whitney has implemented the “ACEâ€� program and with such a program, I noticed the many standard operating procedures in place that employees lived and followed. I also noticed the in depth analysis of results that takes place at Pratt and Whitney of their processes. I was able to observe multiple forms of analysis with in a variety of contexts.

The most challenging component of my externship was learning process capability, process control analysis, and root cause analysis, as well the many terms and manufacturing vocabulary used at Pratt and Whitney.

Impact on Teacher and Student Learning

The curriculum plan met and exceeded my expectations. Students were exposed to critical STEM objectives: Write a technically sound procedure (Manufacturing Quality Instructions), create extensive spreadsheets and graphs that were programmed and linked to one other, students applied kinematics knowledge, students were forced to think critically using process capability statistics in their conclusions, and students were able to work in the team environment.

I would say the students enjoyed working on this project more so than the traditional manner in which I used to facilitate a the Ballistic Device project. Students really appreciated and learned a lot about why procedures are very important in the working world, specifically manufacturing. Students also learned more methods to analyze results of processes by. Students learned how to write quality conclusions that used concrete quantitative data.

Externship Sustainability:

I have already spoke at two major conferences this year, one was a Work Based Education workshop December 8 th at the Crowne Plaza in Cromwell and the other presentation I completed was at the Connecticut’s Project Lead the Way Annual Conference. I am also taking strides in establishing a comprehensive work based program at the school.

I have written a grant proposal for Generation Next Work Based Education that our school hopes to receive to enable us more resources to aide us in establishing a comprehensive school wide work based education program. If we don’t receive it, I hope strive to continue generating contacts in the various fields to connect myself and my students to current work based trends, skills, etc.

 


The Regional Center for Next Generation Manufacturing is funded through a grant from the National Science Foundation Advanced Technology Education program. Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.