Oakland University Engineering professor participates in Manufacturing in America International Press Trip

Professor Robert Van Til, Chair of the Industrial and Systems Engineering Department within the School of Engineering and Computer Science at Oakland University, participated in the Siemens Manufacturing in America International Press Trip at the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn.

The press trip was held in correlation with Siemen’s annual Manufacturing in America Symposium and Technology Tip-off event at Ford Field in Detroit. Journalists from across the United States, South America, Mexico and Japan were on hand to listen to leadership presentations and discussions.

Discussions and topics focused on the future of manufacturing and digital factories. Van Til spoke about “Real World Training: The Importance of Partnerships for Workforce Development.” He also served on a moderated panel discussion with other presenters.

“It’s a honor to be invited,” Van Til said. “It’s a recognition of all the hard work we have been doing to integrate Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and other digital manufacturing concepts and tools into our education program.”

Louay Chamra, dean of the School of Engineering and Computer Science at Oakland, said Van Til’s participation at the MIA Press event represents the strong collaboration between SECS and Siemens.

“Professor Van Til and the ISE department are leading our valuable cooperation with Siemens,” Chamra said. “The Oakland University and Siemens partnership is a collaboration that combines resources to create educational programs that are essential to regional economic development and the improvement of talented labor force.”

Six ISE students were also been invited to attend. Among them was Atul Khiste, a student in the ISE Masters of Science program who works at Ford Motor Company.

“I feel really great (about seeing) Dr. Van Til speaking at the MIA event, as he always strives to provide courses which are required by industries,” Khiste said. “His talk at the event is an additional step toward bringing education towards industry.”

Ruth John is a student in the ISE Masters of Science program, who also works as a graduate assistant within the ISE department and also attended the event.

“As ISE students, virtual simulation forms a major part of our professional careers,” John said. “Personally, working as a (graduate assistant) for the ISE department, I see the Siemens logo almost every day while using PLM softwares to develop models for undergrad students and high school students to work on. These tools have influenced and revolutionized the automobile manufacturing industry to a large extent. So I’m definitely looking forward to seeing the new solutions and innovative ideas the different companies are bringing into the industry.”

“Dr. Van Til has been more than just the chairman of the department,” John added. “He is a mentor, a guide and a friend who has given us so many opportunities to excel in our field of study. He is actively involved in creating an integrated environment that helps us strike a balance between what we learn in class and what we see in the outside world. I believe that has instilled in me the passion and desire to be a successful industrial and systems engineer.”

John G. Billings, Vice President and Head of Automotive at Siemens Industry, said Siemens was excited to have had Van Til speak at this event, which he described as a “venue designed to showcase some of the great things that are happening within the U.S. manufacturing sector.”

“Dr. Van Til’s vision of how a complete digital factory spectrum is very much in line with Siemens’ goals of our products and services,” Billings said. “He has been a strong supporter for years and uses our PLM and Factory Automation products in OU’s ISE curriculum. Siemens has successfully teamed with Dr. Van Til and OU to support Fiat Chrysler Automobiles with projects like the advanced manufacturing lab and the PLM Training & Internship Pilot Program.

OU is definitely one of our strongest GO PLM and SCE (Siemens Cooperates with Education) partner schools in Michigan, and we mainly have Dr. Van Til to thank for the strength of that relationship,” Billings added.

Van Til is the Pawley Professor of Lean Studies and Chair of Oakland University’s Industrial and Systems Engineering Department. Van Til is also associated with Oakland University’s Pawley Lean Institute.
Van Til’s educational and research interests focus on the modeling, analysis and control of manufacturing systems, lean and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM). His projects have been supported by the National Science Foundation and the Michigan Economic Development Corp. as well as by companies such as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Ford Motor Co., Siemens Inc. and the Crittenton Hospital Medical Center. He has served in visiting positions at universities in Hawaii, the Netherlands and Australia.

To learn more about Oakland’s Industrial and Systems Engineering Department, visit oakland.edu/SECS/ISE.