DC Velocity - July 2018

inbound

Three-dimensional (3-D) printing could change the ground rules of logistics, allowing companies to produce parts on site and on demand, thus avoiding the costs of shipping and storage, proponents say. Despite that game-changing promise, many companies believe the technology is still in the distant future.

That perception could soon change—if one of 3-D printing’s biggest supporters, Boston-based industrial giant General Electric Co. (GE), has anything to say about it. GE has been pouring resources into its Additive Education Program (AEP), an effort to promote “additive manufacturing” by donating 3-D printing equipment to primary and secondary schools around the world. In the most recent round, GE’s AEP awarded polymer 3-D printing packages—which include hardware, software, and a teaching curriculum for science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) education—to more than 600 schools in 30 countries.

GE hopes the AEP packages, which are due for delivery by Sept. 30, will help build an ecosystem for 3-D printing in education by networking students, machines, and content via an online platform called the “Polar Cloud.” “Additive’s time is now. It is already transforming how we design, engineer, and manufacture complex and everyday items,” Jason Oliver, president and CEO of GE Additive, said in a statement. “But we have to keep an eye on the future and ensure we have enough engineers, coders, and materials scientists coming through the education system to fulfill the potential of additive manufacturing.”

GE goes 3-D

Logistics professionals are gaining more opportunities for advanced education, thanks to the growing number of schools offering “blended learning” programs that combine online and classroom-based instruction.

Purdue University is one of the latest schools to adopt this approach. Purdue recently announced it had joined forces with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to offer a hybrid learning option for students pursuing a master’s degree in supply chain management (SCM). Under the arrangement, Purdue will waive 10 credits toward its degree for students who complete MIT’s online MITx MicroMasters in SCM program (which includes five courses and a comprehensive exam). Students earn the remaining 20 credit hours through classes on the school’s Indiana campus.

Blended learning opens the door to advanced degrees for students who lack the time or money to commit to a full-time master’s program, according to MIT. The average learner in the MITx MicroMasters in SCM program has six years of work experience and an average age of 33, suggesting that students are taking advantage of the option to advance their careers, the school said. “This hybrid approach to learning is highly accessible and will accelerate the careers of busy supply chain professionals … who wouldn’t otherwise have been able to complete a master’s degree,” Chris Caplice, director of MIT’s SCM MicroMasters program, said in a statement.

MIT has similar programs in place with seven other schools around the world, including the Zaragoza Logistics Center (Spain); Malaysia Institute for Supply Chain Innovation; Rochester Institute of Technology and Doane University (U.S.); Curtin University and University of Queensland (Australia); and Galileo University (Guatemala).

Schools offer “hybrid”
path to SCM master’s
degree

Forklift manufacturer UniCarriers Americas Corp. (UCA) will hold its first Forklift Industry Summit in Miami this fall. Scheduled for Oct. 10 to 12 at the InterContinental Hotel Miami, the invitation-only event will bring together UCA dealers, component and aftermarket suppliers, and industry experts for three days of information-sharing opportunities, the company says.

UCA President James J. Radous III will provide opening remarks, kicking off a general session that includes keynotes by a lineup of company executives and industry leaders. Following the general session, attendees can choose from a number of breakout sessions and roundtable discussions. Dealer breakout sessions will cover such topics as future segments marketing, rental management, service automation, UCA’s product roadmap, and human resources best practices. Supplier speaker topics will be announced at a later date.