May 18 2013
Following the International Manufacturing Systems (IMS) Steering Committee meeting to be held today, the IMS will conduct a manufacturing research workshop at SCRA’s Applied Research Center on Friday, May 17.
The workshop will give a general overview of IMS, provide a preview of the World Manufacturing Forum 2013 and will brief attendees on advanced manufacturing research programs from experts in Europe and North America.
Attendees include members of the SC Manufacturers Alliance and startup technology manufacturers supported by SCRA’s Technology Ventures sector. Following the workshop, attendees will tour the InterTech Group’s new TIGHITCO composites manufacturing facility in Ladson, SC. About fifty industry and policy leaders from North America and Europe are expected to attend the event.
Notable presenters include: Tom Kurfess, Former Assistant Director for Advanced Manufacturing, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President, who will present on USA Manufacturing Strategy; Herbert von Bose, Director, Industrial Technologies, European Commission, who will discuss the European Union manufacturing strategy; and Bob Kiggans, SCRA Applied R&D Vice Chairman, who currently serves as Chairman for the global IMS initiative.
“We are proud to host the IMS at our Applied Research Center in Charleston,” said SCRA CEO Bill Mahoney. “South Carolina is very aggressive in adopting advanced manufacturing technology. SCRA technologies and applied R&D leadership enable the advanced manufacturing enterprise, and partners like the InterTech Group are working to deploy advanced manufacturing technologies in the state. We look forward to the IMS workshop tomorrow, and future sessions to assist manufacturers locally, nationally and abroad.”
About IMS
The Intelligent Manufacturing Systems collaboration (IMS) is an industry-led, global, collaborative manufacturing R&D program. Program members include corporations, users and suppliers, universities & research organizations, and governments. Its membership is comprised of five global regions: the 27 European Union Countries, Korea, Switzerland, Mexico and the United States. The IMS vision is to:
- enable greater sophistication and professionalism in manufacturing operations
- improve the utilization efficiency of renewable and non-renewable resources
- enlarge and open worldwide markets through new product creation
IMS established five Manufacturing Technology Platforms (MTPs) in 2008. MTP initiatives are: sustainability, energy efficiency, key technologies, standards and education.