A recent article in Area Development magazine identifies Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) as a best-in-class example of a university supporting advanced manufacturing.
“Best Practices for Creating an Innovative Advanced Manufacturing Culture” puts NIAR in the company of B. Braun Medical in Allentown, Pennsylvania, which was identified as a best-in-class example of company training.
“The experiences of B. Braun and Wichita State University demonstrate that best-in-class practices to promote innovative advanced manufacturing cultures within a community do not happen in a vacuum,” wrote author Dan Levine. “They involve strategic planning and effective partnership with public institutions. Educational institutions — ranging from K-12 right through advanced university research programs — have a vital role to play.”
Levine, practice leader for location strategies and economic development for Oxford Economics, visited NIAR last spring as a guest of the Kansas Department of Commerce.
“One critical lesson learned from the B. Braun and NIAR experiences is that best-in-class practices can only emerge when leading companies view local public partnerships as strategic and take the lead in making sure that their communities create environments that are supportive of advanced manufacturing,” Levine said.
“The article makes a strong case for the proposed merger with Wichita State and Wichita Area Technical College,” said WSU President John Bardo. “We are already leading the nation within advanced manufacturing development. The merger would create an institution that is unparalleled with global class capacity and ability to respond. This is about how we can work together to develop a strong community that can support our families.”
Advanced manufacturing is the use of innovative technology to improve products and processes, requiring higher-skilled, higher-paid workers than traditional manufacturing.
In addition to providing customized research, design, testing, certification and training options for local companies such as Airbus, Textron Aviation and Spirit AeroSystems – Wichita State, through NIAR, is partnering with other worldwide advanced manufacturing leaders, including Dassault Systémes.
The 3DEXPERIENCE Center, a partnership with Dassault Systémes, will establish advanced manufacturing technology in the new Experiential Engineering Building on Wichita State’s Innovation Campus. The center will focus on enabling advanced product development and manufacturing, next generation manufacturing materials and technology using the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, a Multi-Robotic Advanced Manufacturing system and simulation validation using an immersive CAVE system.
Oxford Economics is a key adviser to corporate, financial and government decision-makers and thought leaders worldwide. Oxford Economics assists the Brookings Institute with their highly regarded Metropolitan Policy Program, which has been an important reference document in developing Wichita State University’s Strategic Plan and Innovation University concept.
To read full article in Area Development magazine, visit http://bit.ly/24Mjs3E.