Summit to explore future of manufacturing in the Midwest
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Advancing Manufacturing V: The Future of Midwest Manufacturing will take place May 23 on the Purdue campus. Speaking in the morning sessions beginning at 9 a.m. in Stewart Center's Fowler Hall will be the federal government's top manufacturing official, other national manufacturing organization officials and Purdue President Martin C. Jischke.
A complete summit schedule and free online registration is available online.
John Sullivan, director of Purdue's Center for Advanced Manufacturing, will welcome attendees at 9 a.m., and Jischke will speak at 9:15 a.m. on the summit's goals. Al Frink, U.S. Department of Commerce assistant secretary for manufacturing and services, International Trade Administration, will talk at 9:30 a.m. as the morning session keynote speaker.
Frink's talk will be followed by a panel discussion on "Why Manufacturing Matters." Panelists include John Byrd, Association of Manufacturing Technology president; Eric Mittelstadt, National Council for Advanced Manufacturing CEO; Phyllis Eisen, National Association of Manufacturers vice president; and Leo Reddy, Manufacturing Skill Standards Council, Next Generation Manufacturing Initiative CEO.
The luncheon program includes a talk by William A. Strauss, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago senior economist and economic adviser.
In the afternoon, attendees can choose to attend interactive sessions at 1:30 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. on issues Indiana manufacturers must deal with to remain globally competitive. Topics include:
• Education: "The Cornerstone of Advanced Manufacturing."
• Public perception: "Manufacturing Image and Awareness."
• Legislation: "Foundations for Manufacturing Success."
• Health care: "Health Care's Role in Manufacturing."
• Globalization: "Thriving in the Global Economy."
• Innovation: "Looking at Tomorrow's Ideas Today."
In addition to Purdue, summit sponsors include the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, Indiana Manufacturers Association and the Indiana 21st Century Research and Technology Fund. Associate sponsors include TechPoint, Indiana Health Industry Forum, Indiana Economic Development Corp. and Purdue's Technical Assistance Program.
Purdue's Center for Advanced Manufacturing at Discovery Park supports research to develop and improve manufacturing processes, productivity and materials in conjunction with Indiana manufacturers. The center for the last two years has sponsored regional manufacturing summits to address local issues and challenges and to explore opportunities for collaboration.
Writer: Mike Lillich, (765) 494-2077, mlillich@purdue.edu
Sources: John Sullivan, (765) 494-1279, sulivan@purdue.edu
Steve Shade, Center for Advanced Manufacturing managing director, (765) 494-5183, sashade@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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