Use of a Delphi Research Process for Designing, Developing, and Assessing the Importance of Contemporary Advanced Manufacturing Curriculum

The manuscript describes a study of the design and development of advanced manufacturing engineering curriculum and competencies. The study employed a Delphi research technique to explore and determine the contemporary competencies necessary to prepare and train current and future manufacturing workforces. A multi-step Delphi research approach was used with advanced manufacturing industry experts to determine and refine the needed professional competencies in the manufacturing engineering world now and in the future. Eighty-eight subject matter experts from diverse industries participated in the research together with university faculty in advance manufacturing. The resulting core competencies from this research inform creation of flexible, multi-level advanced manufacturing curriculum necessary to prepare both inservice and preservice engineers for current and future workforces.