Virtual Reality Model to Aid Case Learning Larry Whitman, Vis Madhavan, Don Malzahn, Janet Twomey Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering Wichita State University Wichita, KS 67260-0035 Abstract Virtual reality can be used to configure and build detailed models of factories that can serve as the framework for the cases derived from real-life situations. Practicing process modeling and design using a “real-world” process increases student learning. Virtual reality in the course helps to bridge the gap between industry-based projects and classroom case studies. This paper presents such a model of an aerospace lean manufacturing cell to teach activity and process modeling, analysis, and design. Keywords: Process Design, Virtual Reality 1. Introduction Most engineering subjects are taught by presenting theory and then presenting examples. Frequently, the examples are trivial. Senior design courses provide better student experience by interacting with industry. These real-life situations require an active learning knowledge construction approach. However, this method also has drawbacks in establishing these projects and ensuring the students have sufficient access to the required information. By utilizing a virtual model of a manufacturing line, students are able to view the process and interrogate the details. The instructor also has “complete” knowledge of the specific manufacturing environment as the instructor helped implement the virtual model. This also helps to ensure that the manufacturing line has all the desired features and allows students to review and correct errors under expert guidance. The Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Department at Wichita State University is developing an integrated set of virtual reality models of a manufacturing line at Boeing Wichita. This mega-case will be used throughout the curriculum to integrate the concepts across the curriculum and provide a situated learning experience for our students. This large-scale virtual reality factory modeling effort, “Innovation in Aircraft Manufacturing through System-Wide Virtual Reality Models and Curriculum Integration” has recently been funded by NSF through the Partners for Innovation program (http://www.slvr.org). This paper describes one of the initial efforts of this project, which is to use virtual reality models to teach process modeling, analysis, and design. The paper begins with an overview of process modeling, analysis, and design. Then it presents virtual reality and case studies and discusses the pedagogical issues. Our approach is presented and then a conclusion and future plans are discussed. 2. Background This section provides background on process design, the author-reader cycle, virtual reality, case studies, and then presents the pedagogical issues involved. 2.1 Process Modeling, Analysis, and Design Jack Welch, former CEO of GE, is famous for stating, ''Automate, emigrate, or evaporate'' [1]. Due to this, many companies tried to automate everything in sight. Computer programmers attempted to automate engineering designs and processes. But the programmers had limited understanding of the processes they were trying to automate. Industry needs those who understand processes as well as Information Technology and can integrate business processes with information technology. Davenport and Short foresaw the need for a new kind of industrial engineer [2],[3]. Davenport and Short claim that industrial engineers traditionally have understood both information technology and business processes, but considered them as two separate and distinct tools. Industrial engineers are