A catalyst for U.S. competitiveness: programs of the Commerce Department's Technology Administration are stressing cooperation with industry and academia

Article Abstract:

The US Commerce Department's Technology Administration, created in 1988, is already active in several ways: it has begun a product data exchange standards program, has organized the US response to the Japanese proposal involving intelligent manufacturing systems (IMSs), and is promoting technology transfer. As manufacturing changes in response to global economic conditions and advances in electronic technologies, mass production changes into what has been called 'lean production' or 'agile manufacturing': state-of-the-art manufacturing processes now are characterized by flexibility, short product cycles and high quality output. Studies show that American businesses, especially smaller ones, are having difficulty keeping up with these kinds of changes. Here, the Technology Administration can be especially helpful, providing manufacturers with research findings, technical information, expertise and standards-related data. In its efforts, the Technology Administration is supported by work of vital and fundamental importance being accomplished by scientists, engineers, technicians and others at the Commerce Department's National Technical Information Service (NIST), located at laboratories in Gaithersburg, MD, and Boulder, CO.

Regulation, admin. of utilities, Research, United States, Column, Industrial research, Economic policy, Industrial policy, Powers and duties, Automation, International competition (Economics), Computer-aided manufacturing, Computer aided manufacturing, United States. Department of Commerce, Flexible manufacturing systems, Research and Development, Government Agency, Japanese Competition, Foreign Competition, Cooperation, United States. National Technical Information Service

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A view from the other side; a former General Electric engineer and manager, who turned to teaching, dispels some common myths about academia

Article Abstract:

There are several myths those in industry have about academia. Among those myths are the beliefs that academia is inefficient; that those who can't do, teach; that it is the fault of research-dominated engineering schools that the U.S. is lagging in manufacturing; and that going for an MBA distorts an engineer's values. Academic and industrial management are different in style and time constraints but are equally effective. One really learns a subject when having to teach, it especially when explaining a complex subject to a non-specialized audience. U.S. industry should target university research for linkage in order to become more competitive. Engineers, who traditionally get poor training in verbal communication, writing and teamwork, would do well to broaden their educations by taking advantage of the wide variety of courses in business schools.

Teaching, Career development, Management Style, Engineering Education

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Teaching information networking

Article Abstract:

Carnegie-Mellon University's Information Networking Institute offers a 14-month graduate program in a new discipline called information networking. The program, developed with the help of a $1 million grant from Bell Communications Research Inc, links the four academic areas of telecommunications, computers, business and public policy so that students will be prepared to handle businesses' information needs. Students generally have bachelor's degrees in electrical engineering, computer science or a related field. Course topics include communications engineering, computer architecture, circuit and packet switching, software engineering and artificial intelligence. Studies also address government regulation of telecommunications and information technology, and social impacts of information technology.

Computer related services, not elsewhere classified, Curricula, Information resources management, Computer science, Information science, Business education, Carnegie Mellon University, Telecommunications, Curriculum, Graduate Programs, Carnegie-Mellon University

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