Urschel Laboratories held dozens of representatives from aspects of business and manufacturing as they gathered to celebrate Manufacturing Day, take a look at the accomplishments of Northwest Indiana's triumphs in manufacturing and where it will go in the future.
To see more photos from the event, click here!
"We are here today to celebrate the history and opportunities for manufacturing," said President and CEO of the Northwest Indiana Forum Heather Ennis. "This is an amazing world filled with amazing opportunities so far, we have only scratched the surface."
President and CEO of Urschel Laboratories Rick Urschel also expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to host this year's Manufacturing Summit and the skilled people who work at Urschel Laboratories who make NWI's great success when it comes to manufacturing possible.
"The people employed here are high paid and highly skilled," said Urschel. " "We were given options to move out of the state, but we decided to stay here due to the unmatched skill of Northwest Indiana employees."
Indiana Secretary of Commerce Victor Smith opened the summit with facts and statistics on Northwest Indiana's economic success through manufacturing and displayed the vital importance it plays to the economic client of Indiana as well as the high level of stability that manufacturing has brought that does not exist in nearby states.
"Policies and actions that have come from these policies have led to a business positive environment," said Smith. "Fourteen percent of these funds are in cash reserves. There are conversations to bring in manufacturing from outside the country that just does not exist in other states."
Smith also highlighted positive signs of stability including a drop in unemployment to 4.6 % from a previous 8.4%.
"There are more Hoosiers working now than any other time in our 200 year history," says Smith. "This means that more people are getting to participate in creating better citizens, which leads to good social impact and stronger social fabric."
U.S. Congressman Pete Visclosky also expressed his pride in the economic success of Northwest Indiana manufacturing and stressed the importance of keeping Indiana attractive and accessible to younger people about to enter the job industry.
"We want to make this state attractive to talented people to contribute more to Indiana," said Visclosky. "Manufacturing is vitally important to the future of this state, nation and future for our children. "
The summit also hosted two panels focusing on the opinions and analysis of industry experts. The first panel focused on leadership in Indiana consisted of Task Force Tips CEO Stewart McMillian, Executive Director of HR at Urschel Laboratories James Keilman, Task Force Tips employee Zach Suchanuk and Urschel employee Cole Ozbolt.
When asked about the biggest differences that are part of modern manufacturing and the changes they hope to see in the future, all four panelists had a common theme they all shared, with that theme being the importance of investing into the future of manufacturing through the investment of education and preparation in our children.
"The concept of manufacturing has completely changed, we've moved forward to a knowledge-based industry," said McMillian. "Despite what the media says, we're not losing manufacturing, we're still number one in the world. This is still a great career path."
"Good skilled employees start at career centers, they start at internships,' said Keilman. "Attracting young people now is more important than ever due to the retirement of baby boomers."
The second panel consisted of discussion based on advanced manufacturing technologies with Purdue Calumet/CIVS Professor & Director Dr. Chenn Zhou, Rolls Royce Global Head of Design Systems Engineering Dr. Steven Wellborn and Alcoa Product Engineer Manager John Sharman.
All three panelists credited the use of new emerging technologies such as virtual reality and 3D printing as huge assets to companies that have saved them millions of dollars and hours of time lost due to this new, increased productivity.
"The use of VR has allowed the steel industry to save money through efficiency and accuracy," said Zhou. "These advances have helped us better understand the inner workings of machinery and how to make it better."
Advanced technology shortens the time drastically with 3 D printing and simulation software," said Sharman. "It has also closed the gap between manufacturing and development, greatly increasing efficiency."
The summit closed with FBI Chief of Economic Espionage, Counterespionage, and Counterintelligence Bryan Van Deun presenting steps to take protection against industrial espionage and the steps necessary to preventing it from occurring.
"There're nearly a trillion dollars lost every year due to lost innovation with economic espionage," said Deun. "There are two kinds of companies, those who have been targeted and those who don't know it yet."
As the summit ended, participants left with optimism and renewed vigor in the manufacturing industry of Northwest Indiana. A bright picture of future goals was painted but as Zhou mentioned at the end of her panel, embracing the future and technology will only make it better.
"They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but 3D virtual words are worth a thousand pictures," said Zhou.