Centre for smart manufacturing

提高制造业的生产率和创新绩效不仅有利于制造商个体，而且有利于区域和国家经济的发展。制造业被广泛认为是滑铁卢地区的经济支柱。它是最重要的就业部门，雇用了该地区18%的劳动力，包括670家中小企业（SMEs）。虽然生产力低下制约着各种规模的制造企业，但这是中小企业迫切关注的问题。这些公司通常没有内部研究专业知识或获得创新所需的前沿设计和测试设施。康内斯托加学院的智能制造中心（CSM）通过一个以行业为重点的应用研究项目，解决了生产力差距，加速了中小企业（sme）的创新。它还优先考虑培训高素质人员。结合Conestoga在信息和计算机技术（ICT）和工程方面公认的优势，研究将集中在两个主题上：(i)高性能制造（HPM）和（ii）信息通信技术制造。这两个研究主题都解决了制造业中小企业对生产流程的关键需求，这些流程在生产更具创新性、附加值更高的产品的同时，还能提高资源效率。Conestoga在这一不断发展的行业中的领导地位将为该地区提供可持续的、完全集成的、多学科的制造创新资源。同时，它将为行业提供HQP，这将有助于这一重要行业在智能制造方面的持续发展。

Improving the manufacturing sector's productivity and innovation performance is of benefit not only to individual manufacturers, but also to regional and national economic development. Manufacturing is widely acknowledged as the economic backbone of the Waterloo Region. It is the most important employment sector, employing 18 per cent of the region's workforce, and includes 670 Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs). While low productivity constrains manufacturing enterprises of all sizes, it is of immediate and pressing concern to SMEs. These firms do not typically have in-house research expertise or access to leading-edge design and testing facilities required to innovate. Conestoga College's Centre for Smart Manufacturing (CSM) addresses the productivity gap and accelerates innovation for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with an industry-focused applied research program. It also prioritizes the training of Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP). Combining Conestoga's recognized strengths in Information and Computer Technology (ICT) and Engineering, the research will focus on two themes: (i) High-Performance Manufacturing (HPM), and (ii) ICT-Enabled Manufacturing. Both research themes address manufacturing SMEs' crucial need for processes that generate resource efficiencies while producing more innovative, higher value-added goods. Conestoga's leadership in this evolving sector will provide the region with a sustainable and fully-integrated, multidisciplinary resource for manufacturing innovation. At the same time, it will supply industry with HQP who will contribute to this significant sector's continuing evolution in Smart Manufacturing.