This study examined the feasibility of employing multimedia technology in the training in CAD for engineering design personnel for work in customer re-design operations. The research question investigated through the conduct of this study was as follows: Can the application of multimedia technology lead to improved effectiveness in the training of engineering design engineers in the use of CAD in customer re-design operations in pneumatic tools manufacturing?
The research performed for this study was correlational in nature. Two different types of training programs were compared in this study. One program type employed multimedia technology in the training process while the other program type did not make use of multimedia technology.
The research population was comprised of all pneumatic tool designers being trained to employ CAD technology in response to customer re-design requests. The research sample was drawn from pneumatic tool manufacturers located in southwest Ohio and north central Kentucky (Cincinnati and the surrounding area). Random procedures were applied to select a total of 20 CAD trainees from each of the two groups. Thus, a total sample of 40 subjects was selected.
An engineering design proficiency examination is used in the evaluation process of training programs in the pneumatic tools industry. The examination results for the members of the research sample were provided to the researcher, however, by the human resources departments of the participating firms.
The research hypothesis was tested through the application of ANOVA procedures to the data collected. The data collected reflected the effectiveness of the training programs in which the members of the research sample participated. The scores received by the members of the research sample on the evaluation examination represented the dependent variable for the purpose of hypothesis testing, while the training program type (multimedia use...