Siemens software grant to aid Cincinnati-area college

Siemens announced Feb. 19 that it has made a $66.8 million software grant to Cincinnati State Technical and Community College to help train the future workforce on product lifecycle management software used throughout manufacturing.

The grant was announced at Siemens’ Norwood, Ohio plant just outside Cincinnati. The plant building is 119 years old and was renovated in 2005 to manufacture large electric motors and generators for the chemical, pulp & paper, power generation, cement, water/wastewater, metals, mining, oil & gas and transportation industries. The facility, which employs more than 500 workers, received the Plant Engineering Top Plant award in 2009.

Both Siemens and Cincinnati State officials noted that the grant will help in two areas: training the next generation of workers, and training them to use software in product lifecycle management. 

“The manufacturing industry in America is on the rise and it is being transformed by a software revolution that is enhancing productivity, increasing efficiency and speeding time to market,” said Chuck Grindstaff, president and CEO, Siemens PLM Software. “This revolution requires a highly trained workforce. With this grant, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College will be able to integrate world-class PLM technology into its curriculum, so that its students are even better prepared for co-op assignments and for high quality manufacturing jobs.” 

“Cincinnati State is a career college, and we’re known for our strong business relationships,” said Cincinnati State President O’dell M. Owens. “This software grant from Siemens allows us to send our graduates into the manufacturing workplace ready to go the minute they walk in the door. That will be a huge competitive advantage for them and an even greater asset for the Cincinnati business community.

”The software will be used in Cincinnati State’s Center for Innovative Technologies to support its mechanical engineering and industrial design technologies programs, as well as other programs in the college. Students and faculty will use the software in assignments and research related to mechanical engineering, industrial design and manufacturing management.

Siemens officials noted that Ohio employers such as Procter & Gamble, GE Aviation, the United States Air Force, Ethicon Endo Surgery, and OPW Fueling Components already use the Siemens software in their plants. Creating such partnerships between schools training future manufacturing workers and companies providing the workplace technology will be important to address the continuing Skills Gap in manufacturing.

“Manufacturing is the most sophisticated, forward-looking and innovative business function in the world today and we need to let students, parents and administrators know what these jobs look like and what students need to learn in order to get them,” said Eric Spiegel, president and CEO, Siemens Corp. “This partnership can serve as an economic catalyst for the region.”

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