Technologies and manufacturing collaborated in some of the most exciting representations of innovation at Cobo Hall this week.
The BIG M was developed by Dearborn based and globally known SME, an 80 year old nonprofit, previously the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, which serves all manufacturing communities through events, media, and educational training.
In partnership with Pure Michigan and Automation Alley, SME was sure to have a hit. To start, the easily navigated website was stuffed full of information and boasted one of the most intelligent navigation designs itself.
The Big M, filled the vendor room, break-out rooms, and atrium with panels, speakers, and hands on participatory events that had everyone brainstorming, building, and inspired.
Created to gather people, technologies, and solutions to increase efficiency within all aspects of manufacturing, The Big M included training younger minds as well.
The event kicked off the week with their International Honor Awards and Scholarship Ceremony Monday evening.
Hosted by the Square One Education Network, the Michigan based non-profit whose work is to inspire collaborative STEM initiatives between teachers and students, put together the Student Summit, where students were introduced to the vendors and their technology, participated in a wind turbine design competition, and were emerged in the world of engineering and manufacturing along with the current experts of the field.
Shades of RAPID’s unprecedented technology and influence in the #D printing world was appropriately still apparent at the conference, as it’s footprint will no doubt be a large one within manufacturings coming years.
Joe Justice of Scrum Inc. was eloquent as Keynote Tuesday morning and then lead the teams on to The Build, a hands on experience for participants to understand the efficient technology of Agile processes of cross-functional teams solving complex problems through unique collaborative structure.
Other features included Realigning the Wheel, a recording for the BBC World Service Radio Program – The Forum, featuring Justing Fishkin, Chief Strategy Officer for Local Motors, Christine Furstoss, Technical Director, Manufacturing for GE Global Research, Adrian Price, Director, Global Manufacturing Business for Ford Motor Company, and Josh Linkner, Chairman of Fuel Leadership, LLC. Their vision and input was invaluable to the understanding of the forward movement of manufacturing within the global perspective.
Josh Linkner continued with as Keynote to a standing only crowd, inviting everyone to think creatively out of the box, with his presentation on his Institute For Applied Creativity – The Road To Reinvention.
Understanding that Detroit sits center within the Great Lakes Region is the perfect place for the Big M. Boasting the 4th largest economy, the region is a key leader in the global manufacturing market. With the support team and innovational creativity of SME, we l expect the Big M to become one of the biggest and popular annual events in the city of Detroit.
Cathleen Francois is COO/Asst. Executive Director and sometimes writer for GreeningDetroit.com. She fancies herself a science geek with a passion for uplifting the city of Detroit. Contact her at cathleen@GreeningDetroit.com
Joe Justice of Scrum Inc. delivers his keynote at The Big M
Pre-workshop and team collaboration at MI Build Experience Hosted by Kelly Services
Stratasys hosts a private breakfast with special guest speaker on Tuesday and
Josh Linkner inspires a standing room only crowd on Wednesday afternoon at The Big M in Detroit at Cobo Hall