由于来自国外的竞争日益激烈，技术变革速度惊人，达拉斯-沃思堡地区的公司认识到，需要具备技术和管理广度的工程师来解决当今复杂的制造系统问题。为了回应这一需要，达拉斯德克萨斯大学埃里克Junsson工程与计算机科学学院于1987年1月成立了制造科学咨询委员会。 本文描述了制造系统硕士学位项目的开发，该项目是该委员会的产品。

BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED COMPETITION FROM ABROAD AND THE DRAMATIC RATE OF TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE, THE NEED FOR ENGINEERS WHO HAVE BOTH THE TECHNICAL AND MANAGERIAL BREADTH TO SOLVE TODAY'S COMPLEX MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS PROBLEMS WAS RECOGNIZED BY COMPANIES IN THE DALLAS-FORT WORTH AREA. IN RESPONSE TO THE RECOGNITION OF THIS NEED, THE ERIK JONSSON SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS ESTABLISHED A MANUFACTURING SCIENCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN JANUARY 1987. THIS PAPER DESCRIBES THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MASTERS DEGREE PROGRAM IN MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS WHICH IS THE PRODUCT OF THIS COMMITTEE.