Software grant awarded to community college in Michigan

Mott Community College in Michigan in Flint, Michigan, received a $55.8 million software grant from Siemens to to help educate students on product lifecycle management (PLM) software for potential manufacturing careers.

By Siemens March 28, 2014

Siemens announced a $55.8 million in-kind software grant to Mott Community College in Flint, Michigan. Students there will now have access to the same Siemens product lifecycle management (PLM) software used in nearly every manufacturing environment in the world—and by more than 80% of automakers—to improve productivity and efficiency in the manufacturing process. The announcement was made during the 2014 Automotive Summit at the Manufacturing in America Symposium sponsored by Siemens and Electro-Matic.

"The manufacturing industry in America is on the rise and it is being transformed by a software revolution that is enhancing productivity, increasing efficiency and speeding time to market," said Chuck Grindstaff, president and CEO, Siemens PLM Software. "This revolution requires a highly trained workforce. With this grant, Mott Community College will be able to integrate world-class PLM technology into its curriculum, so that its students are even better prepared for co-op assignments and for high quality manufacturing jobs."

Siemens’ technology partnership with Mott community college goes back more than 15 years. Now, Siemens’ Teamcenter software will now be used in Mott Community College’s Technology Division to help expand and modernize its curriculum in design and process technologies. This curriculum is part of Mott’s Certificates and Associate Degrees in Design, Manufacturing and Service Industry specialties as well as Computer and Information Technology courses and degree programs. As software plays an increasing role in the next era of manufacturing, students and faculty will now have access to training on Siemens PLM data management programs utilizing collaboration tools.

"Mott Community College has a long and productive history working with Siemens and is honored to be selected for this software grant," said Mott Community College President Dr. M. Richard Shaink. "We believe that partnerships like this will allow the college to better understand and update programs that prepare the future workforce for success. We are excited about the new capacity this brings to the region and the opportunity to further expand our work in design, PLM and digital manufacturing. We see this technology as a critical element of the innovation enterprise that will lead to the development of new and better products and ultimately to new and better jobs for the greater southeast Michigan region."

This is the latest in a series of investments—totaling more than two billion dollars—Siemens has made in recent years to nearly 30 Michigan community colleges and universities.

In addition to the automotive sector, PLM software is used throughout the global manufacturing industry to design, develop and manufacture in a variety of sectors including aerospace, consumer products, medical devices, shipbuilding, apparel and machinery.

"Manufacturing is delivering a new era of proficiency, where virtual-to-real will drive innovation and customized mass production, and link the entire product lifecycle, from design, to engineering and finally to the customer," said Helmuth Ludwig, president and CEO, Siemens Industry, U.S. "Collectively, we must foster a culture of innovation, nurture institutions that enable technology and innovation and strengthen education and training. This partnership can serve as an economic catalyst for the region when it comes to the manufacturing sector."

Siemens 

Siemens 

– Edited by CFE Media. See more Control Engineering PLM and control design stories.