Indiana State University Receives $9.7M Software Grant for PLM from Siemens

Indiana State University has recently received a grant from Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software division for $9.7 million recently.  The grant will help ISU students to work together to manufacture and oversee products the way that international companies do with various partners all over the world. 

Indiana State obtained the grant from the globes most widely used digital lifecycle management software company, Siemens PLM, for the Teamcenter portfolio.  Alister McLeod, ISU's assistant professor of applied engineering technology management, wanted to get the grant to use for various courses in the College of Technology like simulated manufacturing company classes.  The students in this class use Siemens software to design, create and send to market their products, emulating what international businesses do with both suppliers and partners worldwide.  Siemens software technology will be utilized in teaching business and engineering students alike about supply chain logistics and product development around the world.  

Siemens portfolio is used by a wide array of business professionals, and students at ISU will gain knowledge about the interdependency that it entails to create a product for the customer.  Different levels like supply chain logistics, business management and manufacturing all play integral roles, and this grant will assist in continuing the education process to students from all different fields.  

“The grant from Siemens PLM Software will allow our students to familiarize themselves with some of the same design and supply chain technology they will use as professionals working with colleagues in businesses around the world,” President Daniel J. Bradley said. “This will provide the sort of hands-on experiential learning that our students and employers expect, and make our graduates ready to contribute from the moment they hit the ground.”

“Siemens PLM Software is pleased to provide this software to Indiana State University so students can leverage the same technology used by leading multi-national manufacturing companies.  It allows them to gain the technical experience needed in a highly competitive job market that requires deep knowledge of advanced manufacturing technologies and processes," said Bill Boswell, senior director, partner strategy for Siemens PLM Software.  

Alister McLeod wants to develop a specific course that will use the new software's multitude of capabilities to instruct the College of Technology scholars all about the business side of product development.  He said. “many companies create products using parts designed by companies that are located around the world, requires all of that information to be properly maintained and updated in a central location.  If students end up working for a large corporation, and they’re working on a multifaceted product, they will have some exposure to a lot of the software systems that the company may use.” 

“This software that Siemens has is part of a larger package of software that companies use to build really complicated products.  The advanced manufacturing program needs something like this to tie the disparate aspects of manufacturing development together,” McLeod said. “If you’re going to think about manufacturing, you also have to think about it from the perspective of a business, and how the business interacts with the outside world. This software platform will act as a skeletal frame for this business concept that I have had for some time now.”

Robert English, interim dean of the College of Technology says: "The College of Technology is investing more in automation programs, which fits a growing need for many different kinds of businesses.  The state of Indiana is strongly dependent on jobs in automation fields for its workforce. Automated processes and procedures are becoming more vital for businesses to be successful in the marketplace, we are investing strongly in areas that will prepare our students ...to fulfill employers’ needs while helping develop new opportunities for companies to be successful.”

Indiana's workforce depends on job growth in automation fields.  SIMCO (simulated manufacturing company) class is one of many classes at ISU that students create and market creations in a business setting to get prepared for post-graduation plans.  The $9.7 million software grant from Siemens PLM Software will provide education to the students in the SIMCO class and others.  

Siemens PLM software products also include Solid Edge, NX and FEMAP.  

Tim Larsen
Ally PLM Solutions Inc
Marketing Manager