The third delegation to America has been successfully organized from October 29 2016 to November 7 2016 by e-works, Chinese Digital Enterprise Portal. Nearly 40 Chinese manufacturing delegation members mainly explored intelligent manufacturing and industrial IoT in the States. Followed Mr. Peigen Li, Chinese famous manufacturing expert and Chinese Academy of Engineering Fellow, they visited 9 world-class industrial enterprises, IT software companies and research institutes together.

On the morning of October 31, e-works delegation members visited PTC headquarter in Boston and learned their latest vision of integrate the Digital with Physical. Mr. Jim Heppelmann, PTC Global CEO introduced PTC’s new strategy. Mr. Howard Heppelmann, PTC Connnected Manufacturing VP showed PTC’s intelligent manufacturing. PTC engineers showed 3 Demos respectively illustrate PTC’s digital design, digital manufacturing, and digital services.

Mr. Howard Heppelmann, PTC Connnected Manufacturing VP introducing PTC

Mr. Jim Heppelmann Receiving Delegation’s Souvenir

In the afternoon, the members came to Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories (MERL) and were warmly received by Ms. Jinyun Zhang, MERL VP and IEEE Fellow. MERL CEO Dr. Richard Waters gave a welcome speech and introduced MERL and their research projects. Their main research fields include electronic and digital communication, multimedia handling, data analysis, computer vision, mechatronics and optimization technology.

Group Photo of Ms. Jinyun Zhang (middle), MERL VP and IEEE Fellow and Delegation Members

On the morning of November 1, they visited ANSYS headquarter in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mr. Jim Cashman, ANSYS CEO introduced ANSYS latest technology and strategies. ANSYS mainly shared their exploration in IoT and cloud simulation. According to Jim, ANSYS invested 17%-18% of its revenues on research and development, which is far more than other IT companies are. Their efforts on civilized simulation technology have kept a steady growth in last 46 years.

ANSYS CEO Jim Cashman (left) and Mr. Peigen Li (middle) Talking about PTC’s Latest Technology

In the afternoon, they came to GE Transportation Remanufacturing Facility and saw GE used Predix to realize data-driven businesses and reconstructed intelligent factory. Mr. Gerald J.Hess GE Transportation Manufacturing Technical Director and Mr. Paul Boris, Manufacturing Industries GE Digital Vice President shared their remanufacturing practices. According to Paul, each day, GE collects and analyzes 5,000 metadata from over 1,000 sensors.

　
Mr. Paul Boris, Manufacturing Industries GE Digital Vice President

On the morning of November 2, the delegation visited Keysafety Systems (KSS) at Sterling Heights, Detroit. KSS is a global leader in system integration and performance of safety-critical components to the automotive and non-automotive markets. The delegation mainly looked at its active safety products and its research and development laboratories.

Delegation Group Photo before KSS

In the afternoon, they came to the Ford Rouge Factory in Detroit and visited F-150s truck assembly plant. They came to the Henry Ford Museum and watched a short film about the legend of Mr. Henry Ford. Ford Rouge Factory is also the birth place of F-150 truck, so the members also watched the whole processes from conceptual design to finished product and experienced their green and environmental protection ideology.

Ford F-150 Truck Assembly Plant

On the morning of November 3, the delegation came to Rockwell Automation Ohio in Cleveland, experienced its Connected Enterprises and visited its Customer Solution Center, Network Reference Architecture, and Process Characterization. Rockwell is a global company focusing on automation with more than 110 years of history and $6 billion revenues.

Rockwell Automation Introducing Vision of Connected Enterprises

On the morning of November 4, the delegation came to Moline in Illinois and visited John Deere plant. In the Seeding Group, they watched the process of production, coating, partial assembly and final assembly. With 209 staffs and high automation level, John Deere Seeding Group’s every seeding machine only need 6 hour from entry of materials to delivery of finished products.

John Deere Seeding Group

In the afternoon, they visited Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII) to study their exploration and practice in digital design and manufacturing technologies. According to Mrs. Jenny Fisher, UI Labs Senior Human Resources Advisor, “UI” is short for University and Industry. It is an important part of U.S. National Network of Manufacturing Innovation Program and its role is to connect and facilitate cooperation between academic and industry.

The establishment of UI Labs is to solve challenges that are too big for any one organization to address. As a collaborative innovation platform, UI Labs has partnered with 300 companies, universities, and civic organizations. There are over 50 talents drawn from organizations such as Accenture, Best Buy, and Cisco working at 94,000 square foot demonstration and working space in UI Labs.

The 24,000 square foot Manufacturing Demonstration Lab

There are two programs in UI Labs—the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII) and City Digital. DMDII was launched by Department of Defense in February 2014 to transform U.S. manufacturing into the most competitive in the world. City Digital is to create smarter, connected cities.

DMDII Partners and Projects

DMDII’s projects fall into three technology categories: advanced manufacturing enterprise, intelligent machining, and advanced analysis. The goal of all projects is to stretch the frontiers of digital manufacturing and design. Currently, there are over 52 DMDII projects in the works with budgets over 52 million dollars. Usually one project is finished under the collaboration of 8 to 10 partners. The delegation also visited the DMDII automatic production line during the tour.

e-works Delegation Visiting UI Labs

The delegation's footprints has covered different cities like Chicago, Boston, Detroit, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh to look into American’s manufacturing revival and successful cases of Industrial IoT. During the intervals, they also appreciated the beautiful American city and country sceneries.

Delegation Group Photo Before MIT

Delegation Group Photo Before Harvard University

For more information of this 2016 U.S. Intelligent Manufacturing Exploration, please Click Here.