Education: SME passion for manufacturing, May 31-June 3

Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) and its Southeast Michigan chapters will host "A Passion for Manufacturing: 2008 SME Annual Meeting & Interactive 'Unconference,'" May 31-June 3 in Detroit; skills gap, retirements, and North American competitiveness are among topics.

By Control Engineering Staff

Share

Dearborn, MI – The

Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME)

and its Southeast Michigan chapters will host " A Passion for Manufacturing: 2008 SME Annual Meeting & Interactive 'Unconference ,'" May 31-June 3, 2008, at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center. Skills gap, retirements, and North American competitiveness are among topics.
SME’s flagship member event in Detroit, where the Society was founded more than 75 years ago, maintains its continued support for manufacturing in the Great Lakes region. Industry leaders, innovators, and educators from the U.S. and Canada will convene to share ideas and best practices, and discuss advances in manufacturing technologies and business practices. Open to members and nonmembers, the event combines an interactive "Unconference" with networking, leadership, and industry recognition activities. The program was built by members, with other manufacturer practitioners in mind.
"A Passion for Manufacturing will provide a glimpse into what SME is doing to help manufacturing companies and individual manufacturing professionals bridge their workforce competency gaps," said SME president Neil A. Duffie, PhD, FSME, CMfgE. With approximately 75 million baby boomers nearing retirement, SME sees this as a critical factor in safeguarding the competitiveness of North American manufacturing.
"At this event,” he added, “attendees will connect with other individuals who, while they may come from a different industry setting, are facing similar business issues at home. A Passion for Manufacturing provides them with a venue to share their wins and challenges. We'll also be showcasing the SME Education Foundation and its youth and scholarship programs that are inspiring, supporting and preparing the manufacturing workforce of tomorrow." (ln related news, also read

Competitiveness: Manufacturers look at what's hot, now, green

.)
Highlights of the 2008 “Passion for Manufacturing” event include:
-Free day of sessions and networking for members on Sunday, June 1, 2008, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
-Free opening reception at Detroit Institute of Arts, Sunday, June 1, 2008, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
-Interactive “Unconference,” starting Sunday evening with the reception at the DIA, it continues throughout Monday: $150 SME members; $250 nonmembers.

Monday, June 2, 2008
8 a.m.– 9 a.m. Breakfast keynote and presentation of SME Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Awards with speaker John W. "Mac" MacIlroy, president and CEO, Michigan Manufacturers Association, Free for members.
9:15 a.m.– 11:30 a.m. "Unconference" Learning Session: "Innovate Like Edison: Five Steps for Creating Competitive Advantage for Your Manufacturing Enterprise, with speaker Sarah Miller Caldicott, president, The Power Patterns of Innovation. A great-grandniece of Thomas Edison, Ms. Caldicott will share Edison's five competencies of innovation; how these competencies apply today; and a hands-on exercise that demonstrates relevance to attendees' problems. Attendees will receive signed copies of Ms. Caldicott’s book Innovate Like Edison: The Success System of America's Greatest Inventor.
11:45 a.m.– 5:30 p.m. Lean-In-Action Manufacturing Facilities Tour, Ross Controls, Madison Heights, MI. Discussions pre- and post-tour will be facilitated by industry leaders. Tour participants will be encouraged to offer suggestions for continuous improvement. Limited to 40 attendees. Registration includesbox lunch and transportation. 

June 1-2, 2008, "Unconference" SME Connections– Problems & Solutions Board
7:30 a.m.– 5 p.m. Attendees are invited to visit the SME Member Center to post problems and receive solutions and connections from manufacturing experts. 

June 2, 2008, , Monday
6:30 p.m.– 7:30 p.m. Reception, featuring the SME Education Foundation 
7:30 p.m.– 10 p.m. Dinner and awards presentation
Advance registration required; black tie optional; $45 SME members/$90 nonmembers/
$795 for table for 10.

–  Control Engineering News Desk
Register here and scroll down to select your choice of eNewsletters free .