A new electronic manufacturing course for the electrical engineering curriculum

In this paper, an innovative model for course development that promotes a cooperation of educational institutions and a manufacturing company is described. This linkage, which provides state-of-the art technical education for senior students, resulted from the collaboration between the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology at Indianapolis (IUPUI) and the Electronic Manufacturing Productivity Facility (EMPF) and brings together the theoretical study, laboratory design, and actual product manufacturing of surface-mount printed-circuit assemblies. The impact of the course on electrical engineering graduates is discussed.