The professionals: Experts are in short supply: Who will design and maintain future factories? A new breed of engineer is needed. Academia and industry seek new avenues for the necessary training

Despite the widespread cry that the economic vitality of the United States can be restored only by upgrading its manufacturing technology, there are still only two schools in the country that offer accredited undergraduate programs in manufacturing engineering. U.S. factory floors, according to the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, are responsible for producing some two thirds of the nation´s wealth yet are designed and run by people educated in other areas.