Advanced manufacturing summit in May at Purdue
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University's ninth annual Advancing Manufacturing Summit on May 11 will focus on the critical role manufacturing networks play in strengthening existing firms and attracting emerging industry sectors to Indiana.
This year's summit will feature talks by top state and industry officials, including executives from companies specializing in electric vehicles, a manufacturing sector that is expected to grow dramatically in coming decades, said John Sullivan, director of Purdue's Center for Advanced Manufacturing.
The daylong summit, titled Creating Connections: The Importance of Building Business Networks, will feature talks by Indiana Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman, E. Mitchell Roob Jr., secretary of commerce and CEO of the Indiana Economic Development Corp., and Paul Mitchell, president and CEO of Energy Systems Network, an initiative of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership focusing on clean energy technologies in the state.
The luncheon will feature an awards presentation and a parliamentary-style debate on the benefits of government subsidies for electric vehicles featuring members of Purdue's Petticrew Student Debate Team.
"We have an opportunity to create an electric vehicle industry and other new technology clusters in Indiana by leveraging our historic manufacturing capabilities," Sullivan said.
One session will include discussion about the ongoing development by Conexus Indiana of a supplier Web portal, "Indiana Supplier INsight," which will enable companies to quickly find suppliers, he said.
"Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and upper-tier suppliers have many options when choosing to locate new manufacturing facilities," Sullivan said. "And we know one of the key decision criteria is the presence of a strong base of manufacturing suppliers. However, we need to take the element of chance completely out of the picture when it comes to OEMs finding Indiana suppliers, and we must make a deliberate and collective effort to strengthen Indiana manufacturers' capabilities to operate in increasingly complex, time-sensitive networks. We've focused the day's activities around this theme to increase manufacturers' awareness of the available resources and opportunities."
More than 200 attendees from across the state are expected to attend the annual summit, organized by the Center for Advanced Manufacturing. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with registration at 8 a.m. in the Purdue Memorial Union's South Ballroom. The fee is $50 for attendees, $100 for non-profit exhibitors and $200 for for-profit exhibitors.
Afternoon activities are designed to allow attendees to select from a menu of sessions, each focused on a specific topic and intended to provide participants with in-depth knowledge from industry executives and academic experts. Afternoon activities will include:
* A "speed networking" session for attendees to connect with companies.
* A session entitled "supplier selection criteria for high-technology, innovative components," featuring industry executives discussing costs, technical capabilities, past collaborations and other factors used in selecting suppliers.
* A session titled "the benefits of participation in manufacturing networks," featuring an overview of the recently launched Indiana Supplier INsight Web portal and presentations from suppliers and buyers using this or similar sites for business development and supplier selection.
* A session titled "best practices in digital collaboration," featuring industry leaders and academic experts discussing the increasing use of product lifecycle management applications and processes to exchange increasingly complex design and manufacturing data.
* A session titled "educational opportunities in emerging vehicle technologies," featuring industry executives and academic leaders discussing the benefits of degree and non-degree programs developed by Purdue and Ivy Tech Community College under a U.S. Department of Labor grant to support manufacturers.
People who want to attend or set up displays may register up to May 10 at https://www.conf.purdue.edu/summit, and the day of the summit at the registration desk. Students wishing to attend the conference can contact the Center for Advanced Manufacturing at 765-494-1279, or by e-mail at cam@purdue.edu, to inquire about reduced attendance fees.
The summit includes a poster session, with students from universities and colleges across Indiana presenting technical descriptions and findings regarding their work. About 50 posters will be set up in the South Ballroom of the Purdue Memorial Union. Industry judges will determine
first-, second- and third-place prizes that will be awarded in undergraduate and graduate student categories. Students will win $500, $300 and $200, respectively, for top posters.
The Center for Advanced Manufacturing serves as the central point of contact at Purdue on a range of manufacturing issues, linking existing and emerging businesses with researchers on campus. The center's mission is to bridge basic academic research with specific industrial needs to enhance both the understanding and application of manufacturing concepts in Indiana.
In addition to the center, summit sponsors and supporters include the Access Technology Across Indiana Network (ATAIN), the Indiana Manufacturing Extension Partnership and Purdue's Technical Assistance Program.
Writer: Emil Venere, 765-494-4709, venere@purdue.edu
Sources: John Sullivan, 765-494-1279, john.p.sullivan.1@purdue.edu
Steve Shade, 765-494-1279, sashade@purdue.edu
Note to Journalists: Journalists interested in interviewing speakers in advance of Purdue's annual Advanced Manufacturing Summit or want a detailed agenda of the speakers, programs and activities, may contact Emil Venere at 765-494-4709, venere@purdue.edu