Practice and Evaluation of Model Based Development (MBD) Education

Abstract This study presents the practical results concerning model-based development educational practices implemented by Hiroshima University and Mazda Motor Corporation, an automobile manufacturer, and the consequent educational effects. Importance of model-based development is increasing in industrial world. Model-based development is performed according to a development process called the ”V-type development process (V-process).” However, several professional engineers involved in automobile development have insufficient experience in conducting model-based development. In this study, the authors propose a program that allows these professional engineers to learn the V-process using a motor control system via a hands-on approach. The program is implemented to target 159 professional engineers belonging to Mazda Motor Corporation. From the questionnaire surveys taken by the learners, it is revealed that the V-process exercises considerably contribute to the self-efficacy of the learners for operational performance using model-based development.