Cleveland, Ohio ---The Manufacturing Advocacy & Growth Network (MAGNET - magnetwork.org) and the Ohio State University Center for Automotive Research (CAR – car.eng.ohio-state.edu) will collaborate to generate increased growth and profitability for the motor vehicle and parts manufacturing industry throughout Ohio.
"Preparing for Production of Smart Grid and Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles"
Last summer, the Ohio Department of Development designated Cleveland-based MAGNET as the “go to” Ohio Edison Technology Center for those industries statewide. MAGNET, now in its 26th year of operation, has helped hundreds of manufacturers in Northern Ohio increase their productivity and make enterprise-wide innovation a high priority in client companies. Upon completion of MAGNET-related projects, their clients report back an average 56-to-1 return on investment.
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CAR is an interdisciplinary research center in the College of Engineering at the Ohio State University focused on helping shape the future of the automotive industry, including smart grid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Operating from state-of-the-art facilities that position CAR as one of the leading automotive centers in America, the faculty, staff and students focus on excellence and innovation in research, technology and education and establishing and adopting best practices.
“MAGNET now looks forward to providing our proven, successful services to even more companies throughout Ohio. We are confident that our partnership
With CAR will improve our ability to help companies of all sizes within the motor vehicle and parts manufacturing industry to compete more effectively in today’s global marketplace,” said MAGNET President and Chief Executive Officer Dan Berry.
“CAR is well positioned to provide technology innovation for the automotive industry in Ohio, and through MAGNET we will be able to increase the type and level of engineering services we are already providing to the industry. The cooperation between CAR and MAGNET creates complementary capabilities and is a unique partnership in the country,” said Center for Automotive Research Director Dr. Giorgio Rizzoni.
Both MAGNET and CAR were active participants in the Ohio Automotive Industry Support Council workshop held in late December in Columbus. The purpose of the Council, established by Ohio Governor Ted Strickland this fall, is to issue recommendations to the State to protect and grow the automotive industry in Ohio. The workshop was convened by Ohio Department of Development Director Lisa Patt-McDaniel and Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric Fingerhut and attended by senior executives from leading automobile manufacturers such as Ford, General Motors, Honda, Chrysler and Toyota and auto suppliers such as Goodyear, United States Steel and Eaton Corporation.
John Griffin, Director of the Ohio Department of Development’s Technology and Innovation Division, noted that MAGNET’s focus on motor vehicles and parts manufacturing is an element of the State’s strategy to ensure that industry sectors critical to the State’s economic vitality receive necessary attention and support. He said that each of Ohio’s seven Edison Centers is focused on assisting a particular industry sector to address competitiveness issues.
MAGNET already has two programs in place for Ohio companies in the motor vehicle supply chain to achieve process and product improvement. One allows suppliers to use a U.S. Department of Labor grant to pay half the cost of training employees in continuous improvement projects such as lean and quality management. The other is a series of online process improvement training courses for shop floor employees and online management personnel courses.
Greg Krizman is Senior Director for Marketing and can be emailed : greg.krizman@magnetwork.org
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