A Computer-Integrated Process Engineering Laboratory is established that uniquely incorporates computer integrated engineering concepts into the undergraduate curriculum by providing 'hands on' experience with modern instrumentation and control systems, databases statistical analysis methods and computer-aided engineering tools as they apply to the operation, analysis and design of industrial processes. A networked cluster of engineering workstations and realtime database servers interfaced with on-campus utility systems serves as a generic platform for studying the application of computer integrated manufacturing concepts in the process industries. The real- world, on-campus utility data base coupled with state-of-the-art computer software/hardware tools is an effective environment for studying approaches to defining and solving problems in product quality and process productivity improvement. Additional utility and relevance of the laboratory include: focusing attention on problem areas of national technical and economic importance - energy and competitiveness; being readily reproducible - almost all campuses have utility systems; and, potentially providing direct economic benefits to universities utility cost reductions.
