In order to meet aggressive demands for modernization of technologies used across the border, US military as well as their suppliers must undergo significant technology advancements and future Department of Defense (DoD) workforce must be equipped with advanced hybrid, scalable, flexible, and extensible tools to adapt to growing complexities. Manufacturing sector is considered the backbone of economic development and prosperity of the nation and Wichita, Kansas is the most manufacturing-specialized metropolitan area (32% of employment in manufacturing) in the United States. Because of the established eco-system around manufacturing innovation as well as available infrastructure and resources, the proposed effort will focus on a manufacturing-centric educational program that encompasses various science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines throughout product life cycle from conceptual design to fleet sustainment. Digital engineering for all aspects of manufacturing (design optimizations, analysis, virtual reality visualization, machine programming, and high-fidelity inspections) and robotics for automation are two of the key focus areas built into the proposed program for appealing to the next generation of engineers and scientists for STEM-related disciplines through industry-scale research programs and partnerships with DoD/industry. Proposed program aims to develop a multi-disciplinary manufacturing environment and an engineering education program in the following three areas:
- Future: create a pipeline of “industry-ready” future engineers for advanced manufacturing processes
- Present: work with industry solving current manufacturing problems providing an exposure to industry challenges
- Past: develop workforce training programs for advanced manufacturing technologies and creating new job opportunities for current workforce
