Lawrence Technological University in Southfield has unveiled its Siemens Electro-Matic Industrial Engineering Laboratory. The lab is designed to help industrial engineering students study everything from the human factor of production-line fatigue to the optimal placement of robots, sensors, and parts bins on the factory floor.
The lab is located in the Engineering Building. Industrial engineers deal with the optimization of processes and systems, working to eliminate wasted time, money, energy, and materials. LTU offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the field.
Contributions from companies provided more than $500,000 in industry-donated hardware and software. The facility includes an industry-grade conveyor line and programmable robot, Programmable Logic Control units used to simulate setting up industrial automation systems, the instrument panel of a Ram 1500 truck to create displays and functions, an industrial work station, an area to assemble LEGO race cars with the blocks required for assembly stored in 200 bins, and a coordinate measurement machine for quality inspection of parts.
Siemens Corp., a subsidiary of the German industrial automation company Siemens AG, was the founding sponsor of the lab with a donation that included software and equipment. Farmington Hills’ Electro-Matic Products Inc. was also instrumental in the creation of the new lab. Other support came from LTU alumnus Henry Horldt, Detroit-area locations of French auto supplier Faurecia, Cintas Corp., Sylvania Osram, SAS Automotive Systems, Valeo, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.
Since 2013, LTU has received two major in-kind software grants from Siemens. The university uses the Xcelerator portfolio of software. Siemens focuses on power generation and distribution, intelligent infrastructure for buildings and distributed energy systems, and automation and digitalization in the process and manufacturing industries.
“Our mission is to produce engineers who will be the leaders of tomorrow,” says Nabil Grace, dean of the College of Engineering. “Our graduates hit the ground running in their professional careers thanks in large part to LTU’s partnerships with Siemens and other forward-thinking companies that provide invaluable support to the university.”
Siemens Corp. was also honored as LTU’s Corporate Partners of the Year. The award was presented to Raj Batra, LTU alumnus and president of Siemens Digital Industries U.S.
“We are a proud partner of LTU, and we are grateful for this recognition,” says Batra. “It’s truly great to see how LTU is driving the education of the next generation of digital talent. High-tech jobs in manufacturing in the United States have a great growth potential. To reach this potential, our education and training must address the demand for digital skills. The opening of this first Industrial Engineering Lab is a milestone putting top-notch technologies into the hands of manufacturing’s next generation.”
Siemens participates with hundreds of educational institutions across the country through the Siemens Cooperates with Education program.
LTU was founded in 1932 and is private university.
