Gannon University Receives $373 Million Software Grant from Siemens

Gannon University has locations in Erie, Pennsylvania as well as Ruskin, Florida. It’s a liberal arts college, but it also offers a good technological education for those who are interested – and its engineering program is about to become even better thanks to a new software grant from Siemens. The grant, which has an estimated value of $373 million, gives Gannon University access to Siemens’ product lifecycle management (PLM) software, which is composed of several programs, including:

• The Teamcenter portfolio, a digital lifecycle management software
• The Tecnomatix portfolio, an industry-leading digital manufacturing software
• NX software, an integrated solution for computer aided design, manufacturing and engineering (CAD/CAM/CAE)
• The Fibersim portfolio for composites engineering
• The Simcenter portfollio, a mechatronic simulation software for testing systems and engineering services
• Kineo Kit Lab software, which will be used for teaching robot path planning and kinematics

“Digitalization is here – we see it every day in how we communicate, how we commute and how we do business, and it’s being embraced by manufacturers across the globe,” said Anne Cooney, President, Siemens Digital Factory Division, US, and Gannon University Class of 1991 alumna. “Siemens is committed to developing the workforce of the future and helping to close the skills gap, and I am very proud that we have partnered with Gannon to expand opportunities for new high-tech, digital and advanced-type of manufacturing jobs.”

Cooney and Siemens hope that the software will help drive students forward to the kind of success that Cooney herself has seen. After graduating from Gannon with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management, she went on to become a machinist apprentice and then continue into a successful manufacturing career, with positions in plant management, materials management, strategic sourcing and product and inventory management. She also served as COO for Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics.

“Gannon University has always been a regional leader in educating the engineers who will build our future,” said Walter Iwanenko, Ph.D., Gannon University Vice President for Academic Affairs. “As the manufacturing sector of the economy transforms, this generous grant will give our students an opportunity to develop the kind of software skills that will make them leaders in this transformation. We are grateful for the foresight shown by Siemens and for this partnership, which will open a world of possibilities for our students and for the economy.”

Gannon University’s industrial engineering program was established in 2015, and Siemens’ PLM software will become a major component of it and other engineering programs within the college. Students will use the software for course and capstone projects, and it will also be used to create digital twins of their final projects rather than physical prototypes.

Siemens’ PLM software is expected to be used in a large selection of classes, including:

• Computer-Integrated Manufacturing
• Robotics
• Industrial Design
• Work Design
• Ergonomics
• Material Science
• Materials Processing

“With the fourth industrial revolution underway, a partnership between industry and academia is the best way to prepare a digital enterprise workforce ready for the future of manufacturing,” said Tony Hemmelgarn, President and Chief Executive Officer, Siemens PLM Software. “Through our partnership with Gannon, Siemens PLM Software is committed to educating these workers with the new set of STEM skills that the next generation of products will require.”

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[Source/Images: Prototype Today]