Manufacturing automation-the role of the generalist

Manufacturing automation requires an intricate set of engineering skills, a mix of electrical, electronic, mechanical, and, at times, chemical engineering. As a result, a majority of automation projects, or manufacturing tools, requires a team of people with the right skills. One of the most difficult aspects in developing such a team is in getting them to accept different meanings to terms and/or approaches to problems they encounter. This paper examines industry experiences in the development of interdisciplinary teams, and some approaches to be considered at the academic level which could assist in this critical industry need.