Interconnection of Reverse Engineering Learning with Small and Medium Enterprises: An Inspiration for Impactful Collaborative Product Design

The problem of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Indonesia is very comprehensive regarding product design. They have local products but experience constraints in quality and innovation in market competition. Collaborative approaches with universities have been pursued even though they have only been realised through collaborative research. This research aims to apply reverse engineering learning with industry to produce optimal new product designs through Computer Aided Design (CAD). The research method uses research and development with a mixed-method approach, where this research combines the development of a reverse engineering learning model and applies it in the classroom. To solve partner problems, the stage of developing a learning model was carried out by involving seven validators from academia and professionals. Research is also directed to testing the effectiveness of reverse engineering learning models based on industrial products with existing learning models, with a post-test-only control design. The results of testing validators and students in the experimental class showed significant results. Interrater reliability validators agree that the model built is constructive and valid. There were significant differences with the existing learning model at the time of testing. These results reveal that the resulting recommendations in CAD learning provide advantages for universities and SMEs. For students, the reverse engineering learning model based on industrial products can improve their learning outcomes, and for SMEs, it is a recommendation for enhancing the quality and product diversification.