To draw even more attention to these concepts, Starly moderated two industry panels, “Technology and the Organization” and “Technology and the Human Worker,” featuring key industry leaders. He asked questions pertaining to the automation of factories, areas of opportunity in academia, the workforce of the future, impacts of the CHIPS and Science Act and how to attract students to manufacturing pathways, among other topics.
Panelist Jon Hobgood, the vice president of advanced manufacturing and automation for Honeywell Inc., was also in attendance. Local manufacturer Honeywell Aerospace is a global leader in the aviation industry with a strong commitment to operational efficiency, safety and innovation.
Since 2014, Honeywell Aerospace has invested annually in student-led capstone projects, capital equipment, sponsored research and curriculum at the Fulton Schools. The strategic partnership with ASU enables the company to recruit students into their facilities, which leads to “business success, rewarding careers for students and development of innovative processes and technologies to solve real, complex problems,” Hobgood said.
This year, Honeywell Aerospace entered into a multi-year plan with ASU investing in philanthropic student engagement, directed research and capital equipment that ties to their strategic plan to develop a robust engineering recruitment pipeline.
“Many have seen over the last few years how important it is for companies to manage a resilient supply chain and have the ‘know how’ to design and manufacture high-technology products,” Hobgood said. “It is an appropriate time for leading schools like ASU to help invest in areas that will help students be effective leaders in solving these exciting challenges.”
Audrey St. Onge, president and CEO at Lallemand’s North American Baking business, a member of the AZNext advisory board and a panelist at the open house event said, “I attend many industry events and at the School of Manufacturing Systems and Networks Open House there was deep listening and passion for wanting to move the industry forward.”
Lallemand Baking, a company specializing in microorganisms for various applications such as baking, currently sponsors various e-Projects, or engineering projects, at The Polytechnic School, part of the Fulton Schools. The company recently hired a student to develop an e-Project into a real manufacturing solution.
Panelist Paul Aiello, executive director of the Certifications Education Group at FANUC America, spoke about the role of humans in autonomous factories. He said he was “excited to hear the level of engagement that ASU has with industry and the value ASU places on listening to the talent needs of industry.”
FANUC America is a leader in advanced automation, including robotics, CNC and automation technology, with a growing footprint in the Southwestern U.S.
“Our local customer base is struggling to find skilled talent at every level,” Aiello said. “So we look forward to aligning industry and education by working with ASU to build a Center of Excellence at ASU’s Polytechnic campus to prepare the next generation of manufacturing talent.”
Although only a three-hour event, the open house was jampacked with substantive discussions and, most importantly, served as a catalyst to a large-scale manufacturing movement that’s taking place at ASU and in the local manufacturing industry.
Starly concluded the event by expressing his gratitude to the attendees and excitement for the future, emphasizing that “the School of Manufacturing Systems and Networks aspires to be a world leader in advanced manufacturing, producing graduates at all levels to help strengthen U.S. manufacturing.”
