Encouraging an Engineering Mindset amid Skill Practice In the Freshman Manufacturing Processes Lab

students are introduced to Manufacturing Processes as part of the freshman experience, leading up to a design-to-build project in the end of the second semester. 1Although the classroom content and lab discussion topics attempted to address engineering problem-solving and design decisions, student course evaluations revealed that for many, their focus in the lab was on basic machine operation procedure.Students complained that additional lab discussion on the machine, tooling, material, and inspection issues that affect part quality were irrelevant and thus a waste of time.After recognizing that the existing lab deliverables overly-emphasized part production tasks of a machinist or operator, lab assignments were modified to be framed as engineering team scenarios which required the production of a part, but for the purpose of testing, development of engineering recommendations, and other reporting.Additional modifications to the course included two new lab part designs that were real and useful take-home items, the reduction of initial course time spent on measurement instruments, and shifting of some lab demonstration content to pre-existing video demonstrations available on the Internet.Students in the newly-modified course returned significantly improved end-of-course evaluation scores and no negative comments.Overall student attitude demonstrated significant improvement.The success demonstrates possible techniques for achieving the fine balance between lab learning objectives that straddle machining skills and engineering design and problem-solving.