In its ongoing effort to prepare engineering students for jobs in the digital enterprises of the future, Siemens’ product lifecycle management (PLM) software business is partnering with The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) as a platinum sponsor of the ASME E-Fests taking place around the globe. E-Fests (Engineering Festivals) are a series of three-day, two-night events that enable engineering students to expand their knowledge, test and showcase new skills and become immersed in innovation. Focused on digital product design, advanced manufacturing and robotics technology, E-Fests was developed to inspire and prepare the next generation of engineers and technology professionals. Siemens is an exclusive sponsor of the Innovative Additive Manufacturing 3D Challenge (IAM3D) – one of the E-fest Competitions – and is providing its Solid Edge software for computer-aided design (CAD) to students at no cost for use within all ASME competitions.

“ASME is excited that an organization of such high stature and prestige in the engineering community as Siemens is sponsoring E-Fests,” said K. Keith Roe, the president of ASME. “Siemens’ association with E-Fests promotes the objective of the program to engage students and early-career engineers with leading industry players.”

Siemens brings best practice curriculum and training to students through STEM events such as ASME E-Fests. Competitions give students real-world applications and hands-on use of industry software, preparing them for a successful career in the manufacturing industry. Students will have free access to Solid Edge, an intuitive product development software solution for accelerating all aspects of product creation, including 3D design, simulation, visualization, manufacturing, and design management. Using real-world tools helps bridge the skills gap in the manufacturing industry and prepare a workforce with the skills needed for the fourth industrial revolution, or Industry 4.0.

Both students and the manufacturing industry can benefit from Siemens’ leadership in improving engineering and manufacturing education. Siemens is sponsoring the IAM3D competition, where students will use additive manufacturing to create new products or re-engineer existing products in order to minimize energy consumption and/or improve energy efficiency. During the E-Fest events, participants will be introduced to a platform developed by Local Motors – an innovative co-creation company – where teams can collaborate on designs, and prepare their virtual prototypes. Winners will go on to compete at ASME's 2017 International Design and Engineering Technical Conference. The impressive skills and real-world experience these competitions provide helps position participants to jump start their careers, and industry can benefit from stronger pipeline of talent.

“Strong industry collaboration is critical to prepare the next generation of engineers and manufacturers for digitalization,” said Dora Smith, global director, Academic Partner Program, Siemens PLM Software. “Our partnership with ASME E-Fests is just one way we are connecting the manufacturing industry with academia to help train highly qualified future engineers.”

The E-Fest events kicked off in India at the LNM Institute of Information Technology on March 3-5, with two additional events at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas on March 17-19, and Tennessee Tech University on April 21-23.