9513162 Hsu This is a 12 month award proposed by Dr. Tai-Ran Hsu, San Jose State University. This proposal requests funds to convene a Trans-Pacific workshop on education and human resource development in mechatronic technology. This workshop will include educators, scientists, engineers and business leaders in the mechatronics industry from Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Japan. The meeting will be held at the San Jose State University, California on May 19-24, 1996. Mechatronics is an important and emerging technology combining mechanical science with electronics. The U.S. has held a leadership role in this technology, but this leadership role has been seriously challenged in recent years by producers in Pacific-rim countries as these countries have invested heavily in this technology. The result has been a dramatic shift in the manufacturing of mechatronics products from the U.S. to these countries. The principal reason for the shift of this industry to overseas is the quality and quantity of the labor force including the cultural values of the workers. Human resource development therefore becomes a key factor, in order for the U.S. labor force to be competitive in this industry. This workshop comes at an opportune time for developing an agenda for education and human resource development in U.S. colleges for training the front line of workers in this industry. The result can be of importance for strengthening the U.S. competitive position in this field.
