Purdue an exhibitor in first Distribution Virtual Tech Fair

The first Distribution Virtual Tech Fair, sponsored by Brown Smith Wallace Consulting Group, will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Sept. 12-13. The free event can be accessed online.

The tech fair's theme is "Embracing Changing Technology," and the event will feature products from more than a dozen software exhibitors offering solutions to make the distribution phase of manufacturing easier and more efficient.

"This is a revolutionary idea that offers a convenient, one-stop venue for companies in the distribution industry to see what kind of software is available to them," said Kathryne Newton, an associate professor in Purdue's Industrial Distribution Program. "It allows them to get the same kind of information as an in-person show, but with much more ease and at a much lower cost.

"If a participant is interested in learning more or buying a product, all they have to do is simply click. They can also arrange to talk with a live person if they have further questions."

Online fair attendees will have the same type of benefits as if they were attending a trade show in person, such as product demonstrations, networking, prizes and educational presentations from industry leaders.

Purdue is the only university that will participate in the fair —one of about a dozen "resource exhibitors" — and instead of "selling" a product, Purdue will offer information about its Weekend Masters Degree Program, Industrial Distribution Program and Supply Chain Management Technology Lab, each within the College of Technology.

The Weekend Master's Degree Program, which is coordinated by Mark Schuver in the Department of Industrial Technology, is a 22-month program geared toward working professionals. Classes meet for extended weekends, Friday through Sunday, three weekends a semester at the West Lafayette campus. The program is tailored for those interested in manufacturing and distribution, but is useful to anyone looking to hone their technology and leadership skills, he said.

"We have a broad range of people interested in technology who have signed up for this program," Schuver said. "This is an innovative program that is useful for those in all facets of manufacturing and distribution, whether they are selling insurance or making a crankshaft."

Schuver said through the virtual tech Web site, participants can find out more about this program.

"This master's degree gives them the tools and leadership skills to focus on both the products and the process," he said. "We've had a lot a great successes and constantly hear about our graduates receiving promotions because of the knowledge they've gained. Our program has always proven to be very popular, but we are always looking for more participants."

Purdue also will offer information about its undergraduate and graduate Industrial Distribution Program, which educates students about both the technical and management sides of industry to prepare them for such positions in business, industry and government.

"Industrial distribution is really kind of a hidden process within the supply chain, but it's crucial in moving products through the manufacturing channels," Newton said. "Almost any product you can think of, from industrial equipment, to light fixtures to clothing, has gone through wholesale distributors.

"Our program provides students with a solid background in sales, logistics, profitability, and automated manufacturing and identification technologies so they can enter industry ready to meet the challenges of the future."

In addition to Purdue, some of the resource exhibitors are IBM America, Brown Smith Wallace LLC, Brown Smith Wallace Consulting Group and Modern Distribution Management, a newsletter for wholesale distributors.

Purdue became involved in the event through Purdue alumnus Steven Epner, founder of tech fair sponsor Brown Smith Wallace Consulting Group in St. Louis.

"Steve really made this tech fair happen and certainly played a major role in getting Purdue involved," Newton said. "Steve has been a huge supporter of our Industrial Distribution Program throughout the years, and even though he's semi-retired, he is currently enrolled as a student in the Weekend Master's Degree Program. That tells you a lot about how much faith Steve has in us and what we are accomplishing."

The Department of Industrial Technology in the College of Technology offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs in industrial technology, industrial distribution and technology education. The job placement rate of Purdue's graduates is nearly 100 percent. Some typical entry-level positions include industrial sales engineer, supply-chain manager, branch manager, manufacturing engineer, operations manager and quality-assurance engineer.

Writer: Kim Medaris, (765) 494-6998, kmedaris@purdue.edu

Sources: Kathryne Newton, (765) 494-6080, kanewton@purdue.edu

Mark T. Schuver, (765) 496-2094, mschuver@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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