The Purpose and Mission of SIAM

"What makes SIAM unique is that it brings together every element necessary to make manufacturing work in America - the intellectual resources, the physical capacity to fabricate and test new technologies, and the academic programs necessary to enhance our technical workforce, beginning at the high school level and serving every population, including the incumbent worker."

" Building the Future, Today "
--Dr. Kevin Hubbard - Director, SIAM

The Southwest Illinois Advanced Manufacturing Center (SIAM) performs applied and basic research, and workforce development activities. Collectively, these activities help create and sustain technical and manufacturing enterprises.

SIAM investigators perform applied research to support technical entrepreneurs in proof-of-concept, commercialization, product/process enhancement, and new technology development activities. SIAM supports established enterprises in productivity enhancement, cost reduction, and product optimization initiatives. SIAM performs design and test activities, fabricates physical prototype devices, and designs and implements custom software packages. SIAM has major basic research emphases in the broad areas of environmentally friendly manufacturing; renewable resource development and utilization; new-use agricultural product development; bio-engineering; and automation, sensor technologies, and system integration.

SIAM performs workforce development activities targeting both traditional and continuing education. SIAM's principal initiatives in these areas include the SIUE/Lewis & Clark Community College (LCCC) 2+2+2 program and a corporate workforce training program. The 2+2+2 program engages students initially at the high school level, and supports these students through the community college and university levels. This program is intended to help create the skilled workforce necessary to attract and retain high-tech enterprises throughout the region. Edwardsville Community School District Seven is the first high-school level partner in this program. SIUE and LCCC will partner with other regional schools as the program is developed. The corporate workforce training program targets incumbent workers at the shop-floor, technical/engineering, and management levels.