Siemens PLM Software provides OU nearly $12M in software licenses

Oakland University students will benefit from software licenses that Siemens PLM Software has generously provided to Oakland University's Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE).

The licenses – with a commercial value of $11,846,850 – will provide the ISE department with access to its Tecnomatix Robcad software. This workcell design and simulation tool allows users to develop, simulate, optimize, validate and offline program multi-device robotic and automated manufacturing processes.

"We in the ISE Department have been working closely with Siemens PLM Software for the past few years to develop a strong PLM component in our educational and research programs", said Robert Van Til, professor and chair of industrial and systems engineering.

"This software, in addition to other Siemens software being used by OU students, will help position the ISE department to continue to provide high-quality new engineers, as well as improve the quality of our graduate programs that are popular with many engineers currently working in southeast Michigan. It should be noted that southeast Michigan is rapidly becoming a national hub for industry-related, PLM activities."

Tom Hoffman, marketing director for manufacturing engineering software at Siemens PLM Software, added, "Siemens PLM Software is proud to support the educational community with technologies that enable engineers to develop and hone their skills in a variety of system development techniques such as lean and flexible manufacturing.

"Oakland University students will also have the ability to perform research while developing algorithms for the robotic systems of the future. Oakland's Industrial and Systems Engineering Department is a leader in the education of students of all ages through programs such as STEM initiatives and we at Siemens are proud to be a part of this very important process of exciting and educating the engineers of the future."

Siemens PLM Software, a business unit of the Siemens Industry Automation Division and a leading, global provider of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software and services, is a leading PLM software provider for many diverse industries, including U.S. automakers and their suppliers.

"Siemens PLM Software is providing Oakland University access to Tecnomatix Robcad software which otherwise would be out of reach for the academic community. This gives students a distinct advantage by being able to use the same PLM technology widely-used by leading multi-national companies around the globe," said Hulas King, director of Global Community Relations and GO PLM Programs at Siemens PLM Software.

"The experience gained in the use of these tools better prepares students for today's highly-competitive engineering jobs requiring full knowledge of modern technologies and tools."

In addition to the very welcome and appreciated software from Siemens PLM Software, Van Til said company representatives have been tremendously generous in terms of providing training and support.

To learn more about industrial and systems engineering undergraduate and graduate studies at Oakland, visit oakland.edu/ise. To learn about other engineering programs the university offers, visit oakland.edu/secs or call (248) 370-2247.