The unfulfilled demand for skilled manufacturing workforce at the technical level is a concern that has been shared by industry leaders across the nation. According to a study published in 2015 by Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute the U.S. manufacturing industry will add nearly 3.4 million jobs in the next 10 years to meet global consumer demand. The study states that 84% of executives agree that there is a talent shortage in the U.S. manufacturing sector. In 2015 Florida Advanced Technological Education Center (FLATE) reported over 14,000 different companies employ 355,000 individuals in the manufacturing fields in Florida. These manufacturing firms suffer economic loss from the limited pool of the available skilled workers at technical levels. According to the 2015-2016 Florida Statewide Demand Occupation List, the growth in manufacturing jobs continues to climb with a 7% increase in annual growth of available jobs anticipated in manufacturing across the state. With rising concern about an inadequate workforce, the research team is working with industry partners to identify needs and provide educational resources and sustainable programs in advanced technical education. To address the need, the research team enhanced the design and development of the existing Associate Degree in Engineering with adding new specializations and on-site manufacturing experience. This paper will address the model that has been developed through the use of Quality Function Deployment Method and based on industry requirements. Using surveys and interviews with industry leaders, information were collected and summarized in the house of quality. Industry feedback was used in creating the design specification for the new curriculum.
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