March 10, 2022 – Drexel University and MxD (Manufacturing x Digital) announced today the launch of a new workforce development program. MxD is the nation’s digital manufacturing and cybersecurity institute, located in Chicago.
Managed by the Drexel Solutions Institute, the Drexel Digital Design & Advanced Manufacturing Program (D3-AMP) at MxD will target industry professionals in automotive, aerospace, biomedical, naval and manufacturing companies who are interested in obtaining hands-on experience in combination with current digital technologies. D3-AMP will combine asynchronous and synchronous training, both remote and in-person, with an emphasis on leveraging the digital thread that links all steps of the engineering design process. A first delivery of the D3-AMP is scheduled for April 2022 with funding from the Defense Logistics Agency.
“The advent of Industry 4.0 has created a surge toward rapid integration of technological innovations in manufacturing processes, and therefore there is a pressing need to create flexible and customizable training modules for both professionals and future workforce,” said Antonios Kontsos, Ph.D., a professor of mechanical engineering and mechanics in Drexel’s College of Engineering, who will serve as director of the D3-AMP Program.
D3-AMP was created by subject-matter experts at Drexel, with input from MxD and its national network of defense manufacturers, in order to demonstrate cutting-edge developments in linking digital models to simulations-based engineering, design optimization, advanced manufacturing, and product life management.
“Drexel University is thrilled to partner with MxD in the creation and launch of the new Drexel Digital Design & Advanced Manufacturing Program,” said Anna Koulas, vice president, Drexel Solutions Institute. “This program will enable its participants to gain invaluable, hands-on learning experiences in an exciting and emerging field. As we see disruptive technologies become more common regardless of industry sector, it will be imperative that academic institutions and businesses work together in order to train and upskill workforces so that individuals remain competitive in the evolving marketplace.”
Kontsos is collaborating with Kris Risi, PhD, associate dean of Corporate, Executive Education and Innovation, and her team in Drexel’s LeBow College of Business.
“MxD is excited to collaborate with Drexel University to offer manufacturers a training course in Industry 4.0 that allows learners the flexibility to learn as their schedule permits while also providing access to hands-on learning with state-of-the-art equipment on MxD’s factory floor,” said Lizabeth Stuck, senior director, MxD Learn. “This program will introduce participants to the future of manufacturing and provide them with the skills necessary to enter an exciting career path in the industry.”
About MxD
MxD Learn, the workforce development arm of MxD, brings experience in building collaborative partnerships to address the workforce development needs in partnership with the Department of Defense (DoD). Leveraging the capability and enterprise of industry partners with academic research and government and professional expertise, MxD Learn responds to local, regional, national, and DoD needs to proactively bridge and build a more resilient and secure industrial base by equipping the manufacturing workforce for the jobs of the future.
About Drexel University
Founded in 1891 in Philadelphia, Drexel is a comprehensive urban university of more than 23,000 students, and it is one of Philadelphia’s largest private employers. Drexel is a leader in experiential, technology-infused education, enriched by the nation’s premier cooperative- education program. The University’s recognized excellence in translational research is supported by the Coulter Foundation through the Coulter-Drexel Translational Research Partnership and by nearly $130 million in sponsored research awards last year.
Drexel is rethinking its institutional boundaries and creating a vibrant presence and ecosystem of innovation in and around University City while delivering on the University’s public purpose as an anchor institution for Philadelphia. This ecosystem will ultimately benefit students through co-ops and career opportunities, benefit faculty through collaborative research and training, and benefit the surrounding community through the creation of a pipeline to employment.
The Drexel Solutions Institute provides business solutions to the University’s corporate and nonprofit partners, including top-tier talent pipelines, customized training and development programs, as well as interdisciplinary research-based solutions that draw upon the University’s R1-research capabilities. For more information, visit https://drexel.edu/solutions-institute/.