Lawrence Technological University Dr. Badih Jawad, Chairman, Department of Mechanical Engineering; Dr. Ahad Ali, IE Director; Dr. Maria Vaz, Provost; Dr. Nabil Grace, Dean, College of Engineering, Raj Batra, President, Siemens Digital Factory Division, U.S. and Donald Reimer, Professor. (Photo: Business Wire)
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — Siemens Corp., the United States subsidiary of the German industrial automation giant Siemens AG, has given $75,000 in cash, hardware and software to Lawrence Technological University. The university will use the donation to equip a new laboratory for its industrial engineering programs.
The donation took place in a March 13 event on the LTU campus, and a March 14 formal presentation at the Manufacturing in America conference and exhibition at Ford Field in Detroit.
Industrial engineering deals with the optimization of complex processes and systems. Industrial engineers work to eliminate wasted time, money, energy and materials. LTU offers fully accredited bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in industrial engineering.
“Like Lawrence Technological University, we see the great potential growth in high-tech manufacturing jobs in the United States,” said Raj Batra, president, Siemens Digital Factory, U.S. “And we also see the need to close the skills gaps and make a positive impact on workforce development. We are honored that our contribution will allow the school to open its first Industrial Engineering Lab to prepare students for the technology they will encounter in real manufacturing environments.”
Batra is a 1990 LTU graduate, with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He received the university’s Alumni Achievement Award in May 2017.
Batra said the donation is part of an ongoing effort by Siemens to address the growing workforce skills gap, as well as provide new pathways to the middle class in manufacturing employment.
“This generous gift from Siemens is yet another example of Lawrence Tech’s longtime motto, ‘Theory and Practice,’” said LTU President Virinder Moudgil. “Our students will use the equipment and software from Siemens in the tasks industrial engineers undertake every day in the workplace, combining classroom theory with real-world practice.”
Added Ahad Ali, associate professor and director of LTU’s Bachelor and Master of Science in Industrial Engineering programs: “Siemens’ donations will help establish an industrial engineering and manufacturing lab at LTU’s campus, and help establish a semi-automated mini assembly line using Siemens Digital Factory tools. It will be a great learning experience for our students, and help prepare a skilled workforce in the industrial and manufacturing sectors.”
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