NCMS President Rick Jarman
The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) based in Ann Arbor and Lawrence Technological University (LTU) in Southfield have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to make digital manufacturing technology more accessible for small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs). The MOU was signed on Oct. 10 by NCMS President Rick Jarman and LTU President Virinder Moudgil.
LTU President Virinder Moudgil
Under the terms of the MOU, the university intends to host a 1,200-square-foot office facility that will provide SMMs with collaborative access to software, hardware and training associated with digital manufacturing and modeling, simulation and visualization technology.
The facility is scheduled to open in LTU’s General Services Building at 21301 Civic Center Drive in Southfield during the first quarter of 2014.
NCMS and LTU have already begun to work together to address the needs of SMMs who are missing out on the benefits of digital manufacturing tools – specifically advanced modeling, simulation and analysis using high-performance computing systems.
NCMS and LTU have agreed to work together to assist SMMs in adoption and integration of software and hardware tools and resources so that they can become more globally competitive.
“Lawrence Tech is an excellent partner and collaborator,” Jarman said. “LTU is more than just a visionary leader in educating highly skilled and sought-after engineers, scientists, and designers; it is a beacon of opportunity in Michigan, reinforcing the conviction that manufacturing is crucial to competitiveness, and that economic opportunities are made, not found. … This collaboration will truly help Michigan SMMs become more competitive on a national and global scale.”
“NCMS is a leader in collaborative industry and university partnerships and consortiums. Their inclusive approach is a great fit for LTU and advances LTU’s theory and practice model of education and focus on applied research.” Moudgil said. “As a nation, we suffered a great deal when we shifted away from manufacturing. Now, we have an opportunity to make manufacturing strong once more by helping the small and midsized companies that are the backbone of the U.S. economy.”
Outreach initiatives to SMMs are planned through collaborative arrangements with the Michigan Manufacturers Association, the Small Business Association of Michigan, the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the Michigan Aerospace Association of Michigan.
The NCMS-LTU partnership serves as a catalyst for collaborative workforce development initiatives and academic programs tailored to address industry needs and will increase industry accessibility to top talent for internships, co-ops, research projects, and new hires.
About NCMS:
The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences, the largest cross-industry collaborative research-and-development consortium in North America, is dedicated to driving innovation in commercial, defense, robotics and environmentally sustainable manufacturing. NCMS has more than 25 years of experience in the formation and management of complex, multi-partner collaborative R&D programs, and is backed by corporate members representing virtually every manufacturing sector. For more information on NCMS, visit http://www.ncms.org/.
About LTU:
Lawrence Technological University, www.ltu.edu, is a private university founded in 1932 that offers more than 100 programs through the doctoral level in its Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Management. PayScale lists Lawrence Tech among the nation’s top 7 percent of universities for return on undergraduate tuition investment, and highest in the Detroit metropolitan area. Lawrence Tech is also listed in the top tier of Midwestern universities by U.S. News and World Report and the Princeton Review. Students benefit from small class sizes and experienced faculty who provide a real-world, hands-on, “theory and practice” education with an emphasis on leadership. Activities on Lawrence Tech’s 102-acre campus include over 60 student clubs and organizations and a growing roster of NAIA varsity sports.