Program development work in progress: Value stream mapping the educational process outcomes

This paper describes how the Manufacturing Engineering Technology (MNET) Program at South Dakota State University (SDSU) is using Lean Production techniques to map the educational outcomes across the curriculum. As a part of the accreditation review process, the MNET program has undertaken a project to determine whether the outcomes used in the program provide value to the constituents. A student research team has been assembled to value stream map the MNET program educational process. The needs of the customer, or educational outcomes that provide value, were determined through surveys and interviews with constituents of the program. A future state map will be developed and compared to a current state value stream map. Using the information gleaned from these maps, the curriculum can be critically evaluated and changed to better meet the needs of its constituents.