Development of a modular kit to improve DFA learning

Abstract

DFA (Design for assembly) is an important part of the contents included in some of the manufacturing courses taught at Jaume I University. DFA is a tool to analyse and improve product design from an assembly point of view. Although DFA contents had been covered using different teaching activities (theoretical, problem and laboratory sessions), the results in students’ assessment revealed that the expected learning outcomes were not being achieved. In particular, results were especially unsatisfactory in the practical application of DFA. Students misunderstood concepts such as “handling” and “insertion” operations, and failed at identifying assembly problems related to thickness or alignment among others. A learning by doing approach has been proved to improve students’ learning and engagement, as they take an active role and have the opportunity of doing things themselves. In a previous work, a specific modular and reconfigurable kit to improve DFA learning by experimentation was designed. Based on this work, this paper presents the analysis of the results obtained in two different courses where the modular kit has been used by students in a new seminar session.