IGNITE Students Visit and Learn at LIFT

LIFT hosted 20 students from Detroit-area Adlai E. Stevenson High School on March 22 to tour the facility, engage with LIFT technicians and engineers and learn about manufacturing processes. The students are in their second semester of a pilot of the IGNITE: Mastering Manufacturing curriculum part of the Stevenson Manufacturing, Automotive, and Manufacturing Design (MADE) academy. The IGNITE curriculum, developed by LIFT in partnership with national educational and manufacturing leaders, prepares students for 21^st century manufacturing technologies, processes and systems and blends interactive multimedia learning with virtual simulations.

The students spent their morning at LIFT with Demaro Turner, LIFT Manufacturing Process Specialist, and John Keogh, LIFT Development Engineer, touring the LIFT High Bay and viewing demonstrations of equipment. The tour provided them with real-world context for topics they are currently learning about through IGNITE, including Robotics, Electric Control Relays, AC/DC Electrical, Fluid Power, and Precision Measuring.

The Stevenson High School students also learned how innovation and technology development factor into the manufacturing process. “[It was] interesting to know how certain metals are used for prototyping and how forms are made to make the test parts.  A lot of resources go into prototyping and testing and retesting based on how the parts perform,” said Stevenson IGNITE student Dany Arabo.

The visit also showcased the breadth of technologies and related career opportunities available in the manufacturing industry. “This was the cleanest manufacturing facility I’ve ever been in! Interesting to see how so many different manufacturing and testing methods are used under one roof,” said Stevenson IGNITE Instructor Mike Garcia.

The Stevenson IGNITE students will have the opportunity to take additional courses in the three-year IGNITE curriculum, covering topics like Lean Manufacturing Machine and Materials Safety, Quality, Measurement & Control, Programmable Controllers, Fluid Power, Computer Aided Design, and Computer Aided Manufacturing. They will also work on a series of projects applying what they learn in the classroom, including the LIFT-designed capstone project around the design and  build of lightweight water systems.

LIFT is also piloting the IGNITE curriculum, in partnership with MXD and America Makes, at schools in Ohio and Illinois and is developing national expansion plans.   To learn more about IGNITE email: IGNITE@LIFT.Technology