SME Continues Commitment to Students with Bright Minds Program at EASTEC
DEARBORN, Mich. (PRWEB) April 15, 2015 -- SME, a leader in workforce development and knowledge within the manufacturing industry, announced the return of its student program, Bright Minds(SM), to EASTEC 2015 – New England’s premier manufacturing exposition.
“Bright Minds is a chance to stimulate technical interests in young people,” said Dolores Nixon, member and industry relations manager for SME. “It is an opportunity to eliminate the antiquated stereotype of manufacturing and STEM–related careers, and to bridge the gap between education and industry.”
Mastercam and Stratasys have signed on as program partners for the entire 2015 Bright Minds program, which will be co-located at three SME shows this year – EASTEC, RAPID and SOUTH-TEC. The first of which will take place May 13, 2015, at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts.
Bright Minds serves as a bridge for engagement, collaboration and communication between educators, industry and students to support our future manufacturing workforce. Students and educators will see technology innovations firsthand and better understand the value of careers in manufacturing. Bright Minds combines workshops with hands-on challenges. Students have the opportunity to compete in a team or individual manufacturing project tackling real-life challenges manufacturers’ face today, with support from a local manufacturing sponsor.
“Combining workshops, keynote presentations by leading industry professionals and a scenario-based challenge helps prepare students with the creative thinking and problem-solving skills in demand within manufacturing today,” shared Will Slota, educational applications engineer, Educational Division, Mastercam. “Manufacturing is facing a very real skills gap within its current workforce, and we believe it is necessary for the industry to get involved and engage with today’s students who will be the answer to tomorrow’s workforce needs.”
Students can compete in one of three challenges offered during the Bright Minds program:
• LEAN and Green: The 21st Century Advanced Manufacturing Workplace (Team)
Student teams will develop a workcell and/or factory floor model demonstrating a process improvement, or “green” opportunity for their sponsor manufacturer.
• Understanding by Design: Engineering and Technology in Manufacturing (Team)
Student teams will produce a final product representing the results of a reverse engineering process for a part made by their sponsor manufacturer. The final presentation must demonstrate an understanding of both the part and principles of the engineering design.
• Made in the Northeast (Individual)
The individual student will research a product or products made by their sponsor manufacturer and create a marketing campaign for the product. The campaign must demonstrate their understanding of both the manufacturing process and the product itself.
Currently, 15 regional high schools with specific science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) curriculum are registered for Bright Minds at EASTEC, and other interested schools can submit to participate at easteconline.com. Student teams will consist of three to six students.
The challenge concludes with a visit to the EASTEC show floor, where students will be able to talk with manufacturing professionals and see machinery in action.
Brian Flores, senior manager branding and education, Sandvik Coromant US, a program supporter for Bright Minds at EASTEC and SOUTH-TEC, said, "manufacturing is crucial to the health of our economy, and as such, it is our responsibility to prepare the future workforce. Knowledge sharing is just one aspect of this journey, and if successful in opening students’ minds and interest, we are in a great position to secure the future of manufacturing in this country.”
EASTEC 2015 takes place May 12-14 at Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts. The event layout is organized into five exhibit categories: Design, Engineering and Additive Manufacturing/3D Printing; Tooling, Workholding and Machining Accessories; Automation, Quality and Process Improvement; Plant, Energy and Environmental Efficiency; and Precision Manufacturing Equipment and Systems.
Learn more about Bright Minds at sme.org/brightminds. And join EASTEC on Twitter at @eastec, Facebook, or join the LinkedIn group to stay up-to-date on event developments.
About SME
SME connects all those who are passionate about making things that improve our world. As a nonprofit organization, SME has served practitioners, companies, educators, government and communities across the manufacturing spectrum for more than 80 years. Through its strategic areas of events, media, membership, training and development, and the SME Education Foundation, SME is uniquely dedicated to the advancement of manufacturing by addressing both knowledge and skills needed for the industry. Follow @SME_MFG on Twitter or facebook.com/SMEmfg.
Chris Mahar, SME, +1 (313) 425-3160, [email protected]
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