This article is one of a continuing series on professional organizations that
serve the technology professions. The first in this series on the National Association
of Industrial and Technical Teacher Educators (NAITTE) by S. D. Johnson, R. N. Evans,
and J. Stern appeared in the journal’s Summer/Fall 1996 issue. This was followed by a
special section on the MVITEC in the Winter/Spring 1997 issue, Wright’s article on the
CTTE in the Summer/Fall 1997 issue, and Starkweather’s article on the ITEA in the
Summer/Fall 1998 issue. Future issues will carry more such articles to provide members
of the technology professions a comprehensive portrait of professional organizations
that exist throughout the world. Some serve students, others industrial and business
practitioners, and others are devoted to teachers on various educational levels. The
progress and strength of the professions in technology rely on the dynamics of viable
professional organizations. We believe it is in the readers’ interests to participate
in, contribute to, and enjoy the professional benefits of one or more of these
organizations as appropriate to the individual’s status and needs within a technology
profession. It should be of interest that in 1984 the NAIT constitution was amended to
recognize Epsilon Pi Tau as its official honorary organization and this relationship
continues. JS
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) accreditation is quickly becoming one of the most popular professional designations available to members of the design and building construction community. The purpose of this article was to determine the impact the LEED-AP designation has had on Prime/General Contractor Employees. The researchers analyzed 9,060 responses from LEED-AP's. LEED-AP Prime/General Contractor Employees reported that while the LEED-AP credential has not impacted their salary or promotional opportunities it has increased their ability to perform their job, increased their prestige, increased their responsibility, and increased confidence in their abilities.
PurposeTo develop a decision framework for the planning and development of a flexible manufacturing system (FMS).Design/methodology/approachA systematic weighted property index approach for FMS development decisions is developed to evaluate various design options. This methodology converts design property values of differing orders of magnitude into a unitless system where an overall evaluation of the options can be made.FindingsMajor design choices related to the implementation of an educational FMS are identified, and considerations affecting each choice are discussed. A methodology for the selection of the appropriate FMS is then developed and demonstrated.Practical implicationsProvides a useful framework for evaluating various options in FMS development and selecting an appropriate system for a given environment and situation.Originality/valueIdentifies the major design choices related to the implementation of an educational FMS, provides practical examples taken from the development of FMSs at Southwest Missouri State University and the University of Missouri‐Rolla, and presents a systematic methodology for FMS design decision making.
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