Centre for smart manufacturing

提高制造业的生产率和创新绩效不仅有利于单个制造商，也有利于区域和国家的经济发展。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，雇用了该区域18%的劳动力，包括670家中小型企业。虽然低生产率制约着各种规模的制造企业，但它对中小企业来说是迫在眉睫的问题。这些公司通常没有内部研究专业知识，也没有创新所需的尖端设计和测试设施。康尼斯托加学院的智能制造中心(CSM)通过以行业为重点的应用研究计划，解决了生产率差距，并加快了中小型企业(SME)的创新。它还将培训高素质人员(HQP)列为优先事项。结合Conestoga在信息和计算机技术(ICT)和工程方面公认的优势，这项研究将集中在两个主题上：(I)高性能制造(HPM)，和(Ii)支持ICT的制造。这两个研究主题都涉及制造业中小企业对在生产更具创新性、更高附加值的产品的同时产生资源效率的工艺的迫切需求。Conestoga在这个不断发展的领域的领导地位将为该地区提供可持续的、全面整合的、多学科的制造业创新资源。同时，它将为行业提供HQP，他们将为这一重要行业在智能制造领域的持续发展做出贡献。

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.