Advantech and University of Cincinnati to create Advantech e-Manufacturing Lab

09/13/2007

Cincinnati, Ohio, September 12 - The Industrial Automation Group of Advantech and the University of Cincinnati have partnered to create the Advantech e-Manufacturing Lab to promote research, development and educational programs for students and professionals alike.
 
Advantech has provided the University of Cincinnati with embedded automation controllers (UNO-2171), flat-panel monitors (FPM-2150) and USB I/O modules (USB-4711) to monitor machines for changes and provide predictive failure analysis.  A lab station equipped with AStudio and a Touch Panel Computer (TPC-1570) will enable posting and viewing of results on the web.
 
At the grand opening of the lab, Ming-Chin Wu, president of Advantech’s Industrial Automation Group, said the company looked forward to working with the students. “This e-manufacturing laboratory hits exactly our target market for customers to enhance productivity and reliability,” he said, adding, “Advantech is also a good corporate citizen.” 
 
Carlo Montemagno, dean of the College of Engineering pointed out the importance of establishing a close relationship with industry.  “Universities serve two functions,” he said, “First, to promote the advancement of science and technology and second, to promote the application of that technology for economic prosperity.” 
 
The Advantech e-Manufacturing Lab will be under the guidance of Professor Jay Lee, Ohio Eminent Scholar in the Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Nuclear Engineering (MINE). 
 
“The Advantech Lab will be a bridge between research and undergraduate education, and graduate students as well,” pointed out Teik Lim, Chair of the MINE department, adding that students--from doctoral students to incoming first-year students in manufacturing courses--will use this lab as part of their coursework.
 
Professor Lee explained that one of his goals is to rejuvenate the manufacturing disciplines, which are perhaps not perceived as being very exciting these days.  “Combining manufacturing and information technology makes us smarter,” he explained.  “The center is a focus of research that benefits education through our teaching with students learning by working on projects. With industrial collaboration, what the students learn is then fed back into the first step--research.”