The instructional focus of the industrial technology program in the Department of Industrial and Engineering Technology at Western Kentucky University has been reorganized from that of traditional production techniques to one of complete Computer Integrated Manufacturing Technology (CIMT). With the acquisition of a materials handling robot, a flexible manufacturing cell (FMC) has been added which completes the laboratory facility. The availability of the FMC allows undergraduates to use computer assisted techniques and robotics to evaluate flexible manufacturing methodology and to apply standard production techniques to experiments leading to the production of high quality, marketable products.
