In the News:

PUTMAN MEDIA ANNOUNCES THE 2019 CLASS OF INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN MANUFACTURING
June 5, 2019
MxD's CEO Chandra Brown was among 27 women named The 2019 class of Influential Women in Manufacturing. The 27 women who join the ranks of IWIM this year are recognized for their change leadership in manufacturingâtheir risk-embracing work that serves to move the needle on asset management and reliability, digital transformation, workforce development, and other elements critical to ensuring the manufacturing industryâs readiness to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.
Click here to see the full list of honorees.

AUTODESK ANNOUNCES GENERATIVE DESIGN FIELD LAB AT DMDII
February 20, 2019
Autodesk announced the opening of their Generative Design Field Lab in Chicago as well as their partnership with DMDII.
Read about their experience and explore their promotional video here.

DMDIIâS CHANDRA BROWN DISCUSSES INNOVATIVE TECH AND COMPETITIVE U.S. MANUFACTURING ON PODCAST
January 30, 2019
Christine LaFave Grace, of Plant Services magazine, and Chandra Brown, of DMDII, talk about combining innovative digital technology and workforce development to make U.S manufacturing more competitive.
Listen now on iTunes, Youtube, and Google Play.

EAST HIGH LAUNCHES ADVANCED MANUFACTURING PROGRAM
January 4, 2019
Starting in January, students at East High School are participating in an advanced manufacturing pilot program that is available at just two other sites across the country.
Read more on The Business Journal.

CYBER SECURE MANUFACTURING IS SMART MANUFACTURING
January 4, 2019
Large corporations have IT departments with considerable resources. SMMs need all the help they can get to guard against and ward off cyber-attacks.
Read more at engineering.com.

NEW LEADER, NEW IDEAS AT DMDII
January 4, 2019
The Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII) in September DMDII's Chandra Brown named Chandra Brown its executive director, charging the veteran industrial professional with leading their efforts to, in their words, âMake every part better than the last.
Read more at Smart Industry.

RECREATING THE TECH BOOM OF THE 20TH CENTURY WITH ADVANCED MANUFACTURING
January 4, 2019
The 20th century saw explosions in technological advancementsâmanâs landing on the moon, the rise of the information age with the Internet and more.
Read more at engineering.com.

UI LABS BRINGS IN AN OBAMA-ERA OFFICIAL
September 19, 2018
Chandra Brown, who previously worked in the U.S. Commerce Department, will start next week as executive director of the Digital Manufacturing & Design Innovation Institute.
Read more in Crain's Chicago Business.

3D PRINTING CYBERSECURITY GETS BOOST FROM DMDII AND OTHERS
August 24, 2018
Digital Engineering spotlights DMDII's National Center for Cybersecurity in Manufacturing and its work to lower the educational and cost barriers that manufacturing faces to increase readiness for cyber attacks.
Read more in Digital Engineering.

BIG FAST SMART (VULNERABLE) MANUFACTURING
July 31, 2018
The Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII) recently announced that information security expert Koushik Subramanian was named director of its National Center for Cybersecurity in Manufacturing, which launched in March with $750,000 in seed funding from the U.S. Department of Defense.
Read more in Smart Industry.

DMDII NAMES DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL CENTER FOR CYBERSECURITY IN MANUFACTURING
July 19, 2018
The Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute announced that information security expert Koushik Subramanian was named the director of the National Center for Cybersecurity in Manufacturing.
Read more in Advanced Manufacturing.

A SNEAK PEEK INSIDE DMDII
July 19, 2018
UI LABS Chief Technology Officer Kevin McDunn shares his perspective on demystifying the digitalization process, implementing cheap solutions and adapting technologies to a spectrum of environments.
Read more in Smart Industry.

ITA SPOTLIGHT: DMDII
July 13, 2018
The Illinois Technology Association spoke with DMDII Operations Director Kym Wehrle to see how we're equipping manufacturers with the digital tools and expertise they need to begin building every part better than the last.
Read more from ITA.

CRAIN'S TECH 50
July 12, 2018
Crain's Chicago Business named UI LABS CEO Caralynn Nowinski Collens to their 2018 list of the top women in Chicago tech.
Read more in Crain's Chicago Business.

THE FUTURE OF FACTORIES
June 19, 2018
We are living in a society with more moving parts and pieces than ever before. Not only is there more variation in those individual products; there is more customization. From car doors to knee replacement hardware, nearly every product can be customized.
Read more in Forbes.

WORKFORCE SUCCESSION IN MANUFACTURING
May 18, 2018
Smart Industry sat down with Michael Fornasiero to discuss the findings of DMDII's "Digital Workforce Succession in Manufacturing" report.
Read more in Smart Industry.

NEW ROLE FOR THE ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL? NEW ARMY FUTURES COMMAND COULD HAVE HUGE IMPACT
April 14, 2018
There could be a role for the Rock Island Arsenalâs factory in the new Army Futures Command, top military officials said Friday, as they toured several parts of the island with Sen. Dick Durbin and Rep. Cheri Bustos, both Illinois Democrats.
Read more in the Quad City Times.

ARSENAL GETTING HIGH-TECH FACTORY UPGRADES
March 30, 2018
The Rock Island Arsenal and a Chicago-based manufacturing innovation hub are implementing a package of technology upgrades on the Arsenal's factory floor that officials say will have a far-reaching impact on its ability to lure work â and speed delivery of material to soldiers in the field.
Read more in the Quad City Times.

NEW COLLABORATION SEEKS TO SPEED UP ARSENAL EQUIPMENT DELIVERIES
March 28, 2018
The Rock Island Arsenal is working with the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute in Chicago to help get equipment to the U.S. military more quickly.
Read more in the Rock Island Argus.

INSTITUTE TO DEVELOP CYBERSECURITY HUB FOR MANUFACTURING
March 27, 2018
The Digital Manufacturing Design and Innovation Institute (DMDII) announced the launch of a Cyber Hub for Manufacturing with seed funding from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). The hub will serve as a testbed for the creation and adoption of cybersecurity technologies to secure manufacturing shop floors across the United States.
Read more from Modern Machine Shop.

PROTECTING 3D PRINTING FROM CYBER THREATS
March 26, 2018
Earlier this month the Digital Manufacturing Design and Innovation Institute (DMDII) launched a a $750,000 Cyber Hub for Manufacturing intending to tackle the issue of cyber-espionage attacks against the manufacturing sector.
Read more from 3D Printing Industry.

DMDII KICKS OFF CYBERSECURITY INITIATIVE WITH SEED FUNDING FROM PENTAGON
March 12, 2018
The Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII) today kicked off a new cybersecurity initiative focused on manufacturing.
Read more in Advanced Manufacturing.

DOD FUNDS NEW CHICAGO CYBER HUB TO KEEP MANUFACTURERS SAFE FROM HACKERS
March 12, 2018
The U.S. Department of Defense is backing a new âCyber Hub for Manufacturingâ in Chicago that aims to keep manufacturing floors safe from hackers.
Read more in ChicagoInno.

UI LABS GETS DEFENSE GRANT TO START CYBERSECURITY PROGRAM
March 12, 2018
A branch of UI LABS has received $750,000 in seed funding from the U.S. Department of Defense to launch a cybersecurity initiative.
Read more in Crain's Chicago Business.

HOW TO "RIDE ON TOP OF TIDAL WAVE OF TECHNOLOGY AND CHANGE"
February 20, 2018
Manufacturers who keep thinking smart manufacturing remains an academic problem run the risk of quick extinction, said panelists gathered for the inaugural Industry 4.0 ThinkTank in Chicago this month.
Read more in Advanced Manufacturing.

SHOWCASE AT AREA & DMDII'S AUGMENTED REALITY WORKSHOP
February 19, 2018
The AREA and DMDII hosted their annual workshop focused on the future of Augmented Reality (AR) in the industrial setting last week at the UI LABS Innovation Center in Chicago.
Read more from Hyla Soft.

DIGITAL TOOLS CAN TRANSFORM FOOD AND BEVERAGE PRODUCTION
February 9, 2018
An experiential learning workshop hosted by DMDII was designed to introduce new digital tools available now that can transform the manufacturing environment and redefine how people, processes, and equipment function in future plants.
Read more in Food Engineering Magazine.

DEVELOPING A DIGITAL MANUFACTURING AND DESIGN ROADMAP
January 17, 2018
In 1953, Honeywell introduced the T87 Round Thermostat - a ubiquitous and easily recognized device due to its classic round shape. It was easy to manufacture, easy to install, reliable and easy to use.
Read more from IMEC.

DMDII OPENS ITS CHICAGO MANUFACTURING FACILITY TO THE PUBLIC
January 10, 2018
The Digital Manufacturing Design and Innovation Institute (DMDII), part of UI Labs, announced Wednesday that it is opening its manufacturing floor to companies and universities that want to conduct tests in real time.
Read more in ChicagoInno.

DMDII OPENS ITS MANUFACTURING FLOOR TO THE COMMUNITY
January 10, 2018
The Digital Manufacturing Design and Innovation Institute (DMDII) announces that it is opening its floor to manufacturers and academic institutions needing to quickly test process improvements.
Read more Smart Industry.

WHY HALT YOUR ASSEMBLY LINE WHEN YOU CAN BORROW THIS ONE
January 10, 2018
A prominent digital manufacturing institute is unveiling a new service: R&D for hire, with a shop floor to run tests and experts on hand to help.
Read more in Crain's Chicago Business.

DMDII DIGITAL DISRUPTION WORKSHOP
December 20, 2017
Digital technology is progressing at a rapid pace while both solutions and challenges continue to emerge and create further complexity for business owners.
Read more from Hyla Soft.

HOW 34 ILLINOIS TECH ORGANIZATIONS ARE WORKING TO CLOSE THE DIVERSITY GAP
December 12, 2017
Diversity is a major topic of conversation in tech, but so far, that conversation hasnât significantly improved representation of women and minorities in the industry.
Read more in Venture Beat.

DIGITAL DISRUPTION TOOLS PROVIDE A GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE FACTORY
November 21, 2017
The DMDII, a UI LABS collaboration, hosted a one-day experiential learning workshop to discuss, display and inspire participants about how digital technologies can impact the factory floor.
Read more in Food Engineering.

DISSECTING DIGITAL MANUFACTURING AT UI LABS
November 21, 2017
The Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute has been on our radar for quite some time. And itâs no accident â DMDII (a public-private partnership) is working to answer questions that the manufacturing industry is struggling with.
Read more in FB International.

DMDII TO HOST EVENT ON DIGITAL DISRUPTION IN THE FACTORY
October 20, 2017
The Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute is gearing up for its event, âDigital Disruption: The Factory Floor Transformationâ on November 14 at the UI Labs Innovation Center on 1415 N. Cherry Avenue in Chicago.
Read more in Digital Engineering.

ILLINOIS MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY'S FOURTH REVOLUTION AWARDS
October 19, 2017
mHUB, IMEC and UI LABS celebrated the inaugural Fourth Revolution Awards this week to recognize regional manufacturing for its leadership and innovation as the industry stands on the brink of a new technological revolution.
Read more in Smart Industry.

CHICAGO'S UI LABS OFFERS INSPIRATION FOR ROCK VALLEY COLLEGE MANUFACTURING CENTER
October 13, 2017
A sprawling former window and door factory on Goose Island has become a beehive of digital manufacturing innovation in a little more than three years, and itâs providing ideas for Rockford leaders who want to make a similar transformation at Colman Village.
Read more in the Rockford Register Star.

SMALLER MANUFACTURERS CAN USE AR TO KEEP EYES ON PRIZE
October 12, 2017
As manufacturing becomes ever more complex, tools that assist workers with difficult or unfamiliar tasks are becoming critical to process efficiency and product quality.
Read more in Advanced Manufacturing.

BUILDING THE FACTORY OF THE FUTURE
October 8, 2017
Hyla Soft has been working together with Siemens on an exciting and challenging project for the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII) in Chicago.
Read more from Hyla Soft.

AMPLIFYING UB'S "INDUSTRY 4.0" EXPERTISE WORLDWIDE
October 4, 2017
The University at Buffalo Engineering school marks completion of nationâs first comprehensive âspecializationâ on digital manufacturing for Coursera online learning platform.
Read more from the University at Buffalo.

NEW REPORT HIGHLIGHTS NEXT-GEN MANUFACTURING ROLES IN THE U.S.
October 3, 2017
The numbers are staggering: Over 3.4 million jobs will become available in manufacturing over the next decade, of which 2 million may go unfilled because of a skills gap, according to a Deloitte study.
Read more in TechTarget.

CONGRESS MUST KEEP FUNDING THE FUTURE OF MANUFACTURING
September 27, 2017
Congress is now focused on funding the government for the next fiscal year. While there are many big ticket items to address, important federal programs that bolster U.S. manufacturing competitiveness should not get lost in the shuffle.
Read more from Autodesk.

SIEMENS WORKS WITH DMDII TO INCORPORATE IIOT
August 29, 2017
Siemens has become DMDIIâs largest partner, and the two companies are going full steam ahead on developing newer and bolder IIoT technology.
Read more in Power Transmission Engineering.

5 FUTURE JOBS THAT COULD SOLVE THE MANUFACTURING SKILLS GAP
August 22, 2017
Smart factories are a key aspect of the fourth industrial revolution, but a factory canât evolve into a smart factory unless its workers evolve, too. The skills gap has a lot of manufacturers wondering about what the future holds. Should employers offer more pay to entice existing talent?
Read more at Engineering.com.

DEFINING ROLES IN A DIGITAL AGE
August 21, 2017
In the 1967 film âThe Graduate,â family friend Mr. McGuire has one word of advice for young college grad Benjamin Braddock: âplastics.â That was then; 50 years on, the one word of advice today might be âdata.â
Read more in Automation World.

HIGH-TECH JOBS ARE THE FUTURE OF MANUFACTURING â BUT WHERE ARE THE WORKERS?
August 16, 2017
UI LABS and ManpowerGroup have released a skills analysis identifying165 tech-based jobs that will shape the manufacturing industry in the U.S.
Read more in HR Dive.

WANNA BE A DIGITAL TWIN ARCHITECT?
August 15, 2017
Manufacturing jobs today include machinist, welder and assembler. In the future, the list might add cybersecurity strategist, digital twin architect and collaborative robotics specialist.
Read more in Crain's Chicago Business.

SIEMENS' STRATEGY FOR CAPTIVATING INTEREST IN MACHINES
August 9, 2017
Siemens recently showcased revamped facilities at the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII) in Chicago and its Technical Application Center in Elk Grove, Illinois.
Read more in MRO Network.

R&D INDEX: ILLINOIS R&D LANDSCAPE AND PATH FORWARD
July 31, 2017
UI LABS is another organization helping to grow innovation in Illinois. Launched in 2014, UI LABS provides advanced R&D resources in the manufacturing space through its Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII). UI LABS also launched City Digital in 2015, which uses Chicago as a testbed for new urban infrastructure technologies.
Read more in Illinois Science & Technology Coalition.

MAYOR EMANUEL AND WORLD BUSINESS CHICAGO ANNOUNCE NEW COWORKING AND INNOVATION HUB REFERRAL PROGRAM
July 31, 2017
Mayor Rahm Emanuel and World Business Chicago today announced a new Coworking and Innovation Hub Referral Program, which offers companies and entrepreneurs new or relocating to Chicago discounted access to the cityâs network of collaboration spaces.
Read more from the City of Chicago.

ANNOUNCING THE 2017 COOLEST COMPANIES NOMINEES
July 19, 2017
Over the past month, Chicago Inno has been accepting nominations for its third annual Coolest Companies Competition, a friendly challenge to find, spotlight, and celebrate the local startups and tech companies with the best culture.
Read more in Chicago Inno.

RAHM WANTS TO LURE STARTUPS TO CHICAGO WITH DISCOUNTED CO-WORKING SPACES
July 18, 2017
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has a new plan to entice companies to start up in Chicago: cheap co-working space.
Read more in Chicago Inno.

8 CHICAGO GROUPS LAND $1 MILLION IN GRANTS TO SPUR ENTREPRENEURSHIP
June 9, 2017
Alongside Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the Blackstone Charitable Foundation and World Business Chicago announced the winners of the first-ever Blackstone Challenge Friday at BLUE1647 in Pilsen.
Read more in DNAinfo.

THE 11 BIGGEST TECH HIRES IN MAY
June 5, 2017
UI LABS announced that it has hired Brenna Berman as the executive director of City Digital, UI LABSâ urban innovation program. Berman was previously the chief information officer for the City of Chicago, where she helped launch the Array of Things project, among other initiatives.
Read more in ChicagoInno.

WOMEN, VETERAN AND MINORITY ENTREPRENEURS TO GET BOOST FROM $1M GRANT
June 5, 2017
A $1 million grant from the Blackstone Charitable Foundation to support entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds in Chicago will go to major players 1871 and UI LABS as well as specialty groups Blue1647, Bunker Labs and i.c. stars.
Read more in the Chicago Tribune.

CATERPILLAR TURNS TO STUDENTS FOR FRESH IDEAS
June 5, 2017
Karan Patel's parents were puzzled at first when he told them he was working for Caterpillar.
Read more in Crain's Chicago Business.

THE NEXT INDUSTRIAL R(EVOLUTION)
June 5, 2017
In 1981, as an employee for Graco Robotics, Al Hufstetler often visited manufacturing sites to program and service robotic systems. Inside the dark, poorly ventilated facilities, Hufstetler wore earplugs to block out the sounds of welding automation and die machines stamping sheet metal. In these buildings, machines ran around the clock, and emissions poured unchecked from smokestacks.
Read more in I-Connect007.

MANUFACTURERS COLLABORATE ON AUGMENTED REALITY
May 12, 2017
The use of augmented reality technology in manufacturing is often described as revolutionary, and transformational. Now, two organizations have released the first hardware and software guidelines to help AR technology companies develop products for industrial users.
Read more in PE Magazine.

GLOBAL ECONOMIC SHIFTS BRING UNCERTAINTY IN AUTOMATION
May 8, 2017
Brexit. Trump. Cybersecurity. Skills gap. Customer demands. These and other factors loom large as influencers on manufacturers and their automation decisions, and there remains a lot of uncertainty tied up with much of it. Trends already underway will help shape decisions, but how exactly everything will play out is still unknown.
Read more in Automation World.

MANUFACTURERS SHAPE AUGMENTED REALITY'S FUTURE
April 28, 2017
Much of the industrial manufacturing industry is abuzz these days over reports that augmented reality (AR) capabilities will dramatically change how these companies develop, manufacture and service products.
Read more in Digital Engineering.

MANUFACTURERS SHAPING THE FUTURE OF AUGMENTED REALITY
April 27, 2017
The first global functional requirements guidelines document created to introduce and rollout augmented reality (AR) on the manufacturing floor was released this month by the Augmented Reality for Enterprise Alliance (AREA) and UI LABS.
Read more in Alice Bonasio Tech Trends.

WINTRUST BUSINESS LUNCH 4/27/17: WORK SPOUSES, PRE-K EDUCATION, & UI LABS
April 27, 2017
Suzanne Muchin spoke with Caralynn Collens (CEO of UI Labs) about the real possibilities of smart cities and how Chicago is leading the pack.
Listen on WGN Radio.

DIGITAL MANUFACTURING'S DIGITAL CLASSROOM
April 24, 2017
Early this year, UI Labs launched an educational series focused on harnessing data to make American factories more efficient and competitive.
Read more in Smart Industry.

IS AUGMENTED REALITY FOR INDUSTRIAL WORKERS ABOUT TO TAKE OFF?
April 20, 2017
Augmented reality isnât just for PokĂ©mon Go. As AR technology matures, itâs increasingly being targeted at the energy and utilities market, as well as manufacturing and other industrial use cases.
Read more in BizTech Magazine.

FACTORY ARCHITECTURE IN THE AGE OF INDUSTRY 4.0
April 19, 2017
The Fourth Industrial Revolution is upon us. This new paradigm, known simply as Industry 4.0, reimagines how we make things by changing our relationship to production through digital and advanced fabrication technologies, artificial intelligence, and smart and green machines.
Read more in Metropolis.

USE MACHINE LEARNING TO ADVANCE OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
April 19, 2017
Applying any new technology to business has its challenges. Early adopters must wrestle with nascent and untested methodologies, overcome a lack of understanding and resources, and suffer risks to existing operations.
Read more in Smart Industry.

MANUFACTURERS SHAPE THE FUTURE OF AUGMENTED REALITY
April 18, 2017
Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that is set to radically transform the way OEMs and manufacturers perform maintenance and repair operations. Several large manufacturing companies have already begun using AR in their facilities and in the field to service equipment.
Read more in Automation World.

MANUFACTURERS SPELL OUT AR NEEDS
April 17, 2017
Some of the biggest names in manufacturing are collaborating to ensure the industry fully capitalizes on the potential of augmented reality (AR) technologies. To help AR providers develop products which meet the needs of manufacturers, a set of practical guidelines has been released.
Read more in Innovators Magazine.

UB ADVANCED MANUFACTURING MOOC'S PULL IN 180 STUDENTS FROM 26 COUNTRIES
April 12, 2017
A total of 180 people from 26 countries enrolled in the first three University at Buffalo massive open online courses (MOOC) aimed at using data to support manufacturing operations.
Read more in Buffalo Business First.

DUCKWORTH VISITS UI LABS, HIGHLIGHTS IMPORTANCE OF ILLINOIS'S ADVANCED MANUFACTURING CAPACITY
April 12, 2017
Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) visited UI Labs and the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII) with Million Women Mentors Illinois State Chair Jenny Kopach to discuss DMDIIâs critical work to support advanced manufacturing in Illinois.
Read more in River Bender.

MANUFACTURERS UNITE TO DEVELOP AR GUIDELINES FOR SMART FACTORIES OF THE FUTURE
April 12, 2017
Chicagoâs manufacturing innovation accelerator UI LABS and the Augmented Reality for Enterprise Alliance headquartered in Wakefield, MA, have released the worldâs first augmented reality (AR) guidelines for industrial use.
Read more in 3D Printing Industry.

HERE'S WHY P&G CREATED GUIDELINES FOR "AUGMENTED REALITY" EQUIPMENT
April 11, 2017
Procter & Gamble Co. played a lead role in the development of the worldâs first guidelines on functional requirements for augmented reality hardware and software, which were revealed today.
Read more in the Cincinnati Business Courier.

FUNCTIONAL GUIDELINES FOR MANUFACTURERS WILL SHAPE THE FUTURE OF AR TECHNOLOGY
April 11, 2017
The first augmented reality hardware and software functional requirements guidelines have been released today by UI LABS and the Augmented Reality for Enterprise Alliance (AREA).
Read more in Next Reality.

NEW GUIDELINES POINT TO AN AUGMENTED FUTURE
April 11, 2017
Lockheed Martin, Proctor & Gamble and Caterpillar have joined with 62 other organizations to create hardware and software guidelines for using augmented reality (AR) on the manufacturing floor. The guidelines are designed to guide AR technology vendors in developing future products for industrial businesses, both large and small. UI Labs and the Augmented Reality for Enterprise Alliance (AREA) announced the guidelines in a document released on Tuesday.
Read more in Network World.

DISTRICT 211 STUDENTS SEE BRIGHT FUTURE IN MANUFACTURING
April 7, 2017
"Augmented reality," the increasing use of Internet-connected equipment and a peek into a life of financial security were among the aspects of a career in advanced manufacturing students from Palatine and Schaumburg high schools sampled Friday.
Read more in the Daily Herald.

WHO'S THAT SITTING IN THIS PENNY? IT MIGHT SURPRISE YOU
April 6, 2017
Did you know there are two Abe Lincolns on many pennies?
A super-high-tech machine showcased during a recent tour of UI Labs revealed a little-known fact about the back of a U.S. penny: an extremely tiny President Abraham Lincoln sitting in his chair in the middle of the Lincoln Memorial.
Read more in DNAinfo.

WHATâS THE SECRET TO MANUFACTURING 4.0?
April 1, 2017
The U.S. Manufacturing Sector has had an incredible run over the past few decades. Fueled by technological progress and automation, our factories today produce more than twice as much as they did in 1984 and their value-added output is at an all-time high. But there are signs that all is not well. Since the so-called Great Recession of 2007-2009, the decades-long, meteoric rise in industrial output per worker has plateaued and productivity growth has stalled. It is a challenge that canât be solved with better technology alone. Fundamentally, it is about people and skills.
Read more in the Manufacturing Leadership Journal.

DIGITAL MANUFACTURING GETS ITS FIRST OPEN ONLINE COURSE
January 27, 2017
Engineers and scientists can do all the research and development in the world on digital connectivity in the factory, but it wonât have much impact if manufacturing executives donât understand its reach and how to apply it to their own shop floors. âPart of the process is to make sure we build an awareness of what do we mean by digital manufacturing,â said Caralynn Nowinski Collens, CEO of UI Labs, a public-private innovation accelerator. âWhat does it mean to have a connected supply chain, connected factory?â
Read more in Industry Week.

TECH IS CHANGING MANUFACTURING. THESE CLASSES COULD HELP PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES ADAPT.
January 23, 2017
Experts agree that automation is coming to American manufacturing, but many employers and workers still have to learn how to adapt.
An upcoming online course on digital manufacturing and design aims to address questions about the future of manufacturing.
Read more in the Chicago Tribune.

START-UPS IN CHICAGO FIND THAT FOCUS ON B2B CLIENTS PAYS OFF
December 15, 2016
When Jim Boccarossa met Stephanie Murphy, he did not know anything about the aviation industry. She had spent 10 years in the business, however, brokering spare parts.
Read more in the Financial Times.

CHICAGO'S HANDS-ON APPROACH TO INNOVATION ACCELERATORS
December 8, 2016
UI LABS is unique among innovation accelerators because of the degree to which a municipal governmentâin this case Chicagoâsâis involved with developing, deploying and testing its urban solutions. Established in 2014, the accelerator brings together more than 300 university and industry partnersâhence the âUIââunder two labs: the Digital Manufacturing & Design Innovation Institute, focused on improving American competitiveness, and City Digital, centered around smart technology...
Read More at Route Fifty

Digital Manufacturing Creates New Roles
October 3, 2016
A CNC operator working with a collaborative robot needs a different skillset than an operator working alone. The same is true for someone working in an assembly cell.
Read more in the Milwaukee Business Times.

DIGITAL MANUFACTURING AND DESIGN INNOVATION INSTITUTE 'VIRTUAL TOUR'
July 14, 2016
Take a look inside the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII)'s facilities onâ Chicagoâs Gooseâ Island.
Read more on the White House blog.

UI LABS OPENS DIGITAL MANUFACTURING CENTER ON GOOSE ISLAND
June 24, 2016
UI Labs, the center for digital manufacturing on Goose Island, could bring jobs back to America from offshore because its projects will enable companies to produce goods more efficiently, officials said Monday as the center officially opened.
Read more in the Chicago Sun Times.

ROSTER AT DIGITAL MANUFACTURING INSTITUTE GROWS
June 14, 2016
The institute now has approximately 230 members, according to Elizabeth Stuck, senior manager of consortium development for the group. That's up from 65 as of April 2015, right before the institute opened its doors.
Read more at Crain's Chicago Business.

UI LABS TO OPEN DMDII BRANCH IN ROCKFORD
February 19, 2016
UI LABS said Monday it will expand beyond Chicagoâs Goose Island, putting a regional chapter of its Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute in Rockford, an aerospace manufacturing hub.
Read more in the Chicago Tribune.

MANUFACTURING DAY GIVES STUDENTS HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
February 19, 2016
Some Chicago Public Schools students got to learn a few things outside the classroom last week, and their study materials were a lot bigger than a stack of textbooks.
Read more at chicago.suntimes.com.

GROWTH SPIKE AT UI LABS BRINGS FAST SET OF LEADERSHIP CHALLENGES
November 3, 2015
The digital manufacturing institute on Goose Island is in fast-growth mode, putting UI LABS CEO Caralynn Nowinski Collens and her staff on an accelerated path to change.
Read more at ChicagoTribune.com.