NIU Builds Strong Partnership with Manufacturing; Engineering Enrollment UP
Add comment June 15th, 2009
What business wouldn’t like to see their sales up 35-40%? Well, that’s what NIU College of Engineering reported last week. The event hosted 40 or so local manufacturers and educators at NIU’s East Side campus and Dean Promod Vohra energetically reviewed his Colleges’ many successes with Rockford Manufacturing community.
From supporting MARRV, the ROCK program, providing clusters of research that engineers and manufacturers could take advantage of, to providing interns and graduate engineers were among the many successes.
Several demonstrations of innovative technologies that seniors had completed that could be possible new businesses for the region were available. They included Low Cost Micromachine, Micro Stamping/Forming, Microwelding, laser assisted maching of ceramics and Ballistic Electrocardiogram machining.
Their new Baxter Reliability lab costing $1mil. provides vibration control studies ranging from bridge to Alzheimers effects is avaialble for private use as well.
A new Engineer in Residence program assists small to large-size companies with expertise in lean manufacturing, six sigma, supply chain design and analysis, simulation modeling, production scheduling and numerous other industrial applications. All at a reasonable, low cost.
From the several presentations and listening to the enthusiasm, it is clear that NIU College of Engineering is definitely looking to further strengthen its bond with the Rockford manufacturing community. From these efforts, new companies may be started and grown.
Now its up to us to take maximum advantage of this growing relationship.
