Q&A talks to Tony Hemmelgarn, president and CEO of Siemens Product Lifecycle Management software, a business unit of the Siemens Digital Factory division.
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Q&A talks to Tony Hemmelgarn, president and CEO of Siemens Product Lifecycle Management software, a business unit of the Siemens Digital Factory division.
Q: Siemens recently donated $315 million worth of state-of-the-art manufacturing and product design software to the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system. What does the grant entail and what was behind partnering with CSCU?
A: Siemens has about 200 employees in the state of Connecticut and about 200 high-tech companies that use Siemens Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software. Given our strong presence in the state, we saw a great opportunity to initiate an academic partnership with Connecticut's community colleges — similar to existing relationships we have in other states.
The in-kind grant includes NX software — a product for computer-aided design, manufacturing and engineering — which will benefit CSCU students in the advanced manufacturing program and will also be made available through continuing education and youth career development programs. NX software provides capabilities for fast, efficient and flexible product development, including: conceptual design, 3D modeling, and simulation applications.
The software provides precise modeling as a product moves from design to prototype through a streamlined manufacturing process that provides instant feedback and allows product developers to make adjustments in real time. Additionally, NX software includes tools such as convergent modeling, topology optimization and 3D print preparation that are developed specifically to industrialize additive manufacturing, which is transforming the way manufacturers think about product design.
Introducing these tools to students in the classroom could help shape how they approach design, with the potential to help them drive advances that could significantly accelerate the adoption of 3D printing.
Q: How are students going to be taught the software? Does Siemens teach the teachers? Or provide the instructors?
A: Siemens provides the instructors at CSCU with support on how to use the software, so they in turn can teach their students. We are committed to the long-term success of this academic partnership, and we will be there to support CSCU as they integrate this software grant into their curriculum.
Siemens provides all students and teachers at its academic partners with free access to Learning Advantage, a comprehensive online learning tool with software training and industry best practices.
Q: This seems like an interesting approach to workplace development, but what is the return on investment for Siemens? What does the company want to accomplish?
A: Manufacturing today is increasingly software-driven. Innovation cycles are getting shorter, while products are becoming more complex — from smart watches to smart cars. Today's world of advanced manufacturing requires workers with demonstrated skills in the STEM disciplines — science, technology, engineering and math. But as a manufacturer with about 60 production sites across the U.S., we frequently see a shortage of trained workers who are ready for today's advanced manufacturing environment — what is known as a 'skills gap.'
We believe that closing this 'skills gap' starts with industry, educators and policymakers working together to place a focus on training-based curriculum. As a result, we are collaborating with academic partners to provide students with hands-on experience in industrial strength software to help prepare a highly-skilled STEM workforce for America's advanced manufacturing industry.
Siemens sees industrial re-skilling as essential to strengthening American manufacturing. As software plays an increasing role in the next era of manufacturing, Siemens provides design and manufacturing software to more than 1 million students yearly at over 3,000 global institutions, where it is used at every academic level — from grade schools to graduate engineering research programs.
Q: The software is used by nearly 200 high-tech companies across Connecticut including General Dynamics Electric Boat, PCX Aerostructures, EDAC Technologies, ATI East Hartford, and UTC Aerospace Systems. Is the thought that by training students on your software your clients will continue to buy your software?
A: By providing students with hands-on experience in industrial strength software, we can help empower the next generation of digital talent for success in Connecticut's high-tech economy as well as in the industry globally. Success on the shop floor is no longer about who has the strongest back, but who is trained with the latest digital skills in mechanical, computer, software and system design engineering. Our in-kind grant of PLM software to CSCU is part of our national commitment to training students for next-generation manufacturing jobs.
Q: How long of a commitment has been made to CSCU for this software? Will there be ongoing upgrades?
A: This grant will be expanded from the initial four colleges to all of CSCU's 12 schools over the next year and a half. So this is just the beginning. We are committed to a long-term partnership with CSCU and all of our academic partners. Siemens is committed to providing ongoing support and upgrades to CSCU as long as they continue to see benefits to their students.
