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SwRI to hold Manufacturing Day open house

For immediate release

San Antonio — Sept. 28, 2016 — Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and the South Central Region of the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC) will mark the fifth annual Manufacturing Day by hosting an open house at SwRI’s headquarters in San Antonio from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 7.

Initiated in 2012, Manufacturing Day, supported by a group of industry sponsors and co-producers, is designed to highlight industry job opportunities, showcase modern manufacturing technologies, and illustrate the importance of manufacturing to the U.S. economy. Manufacturing accounts for about 14 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product and 11 percent of U.S. employment, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.

“Our staff will be on hand to showcase flexible technologies we have developed that help manufacturers become more competitive in the global marketplace,” said Paul Evans, director of SwRI’s Manufacturing Technologies Department. “On the tour, we’ll demonstrate some of those innovative technologies that respond to manufacturers’ needs for adaptive and intelligent robotics solutions.”

The tour will highlight new robotics capabilities and other ways TMAC assists manufacturers. The Institute develops and implements automation, robotics, and sensing solutions to advance manufacturing technologies. Attendees will learn about advanced manufacturing technologies and processes, get a better understanding of how TMAC supports manufacturing operations, and tour SwRI facilities.

“SwRI and TMAC develop and deliver advanced manufacturing technologies and processes that help customers develop and achieve strategic goals, improvement plans, and superior levels of performance,” said Bill Rafferty, manager of TMAC’s South Central Office. “We develop and implement new automation, robotic, and sensing solutions for advanced manufacturing.”

SwRI has operated the TMAC South Central Office for more than 20 years. TMAC, an affiliate of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, is headquartered in Austin and works through seven institutions across Texas.

“The Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center is an important Texas resource supporting broad needs in areas such as business transformation assistance, lean manufacturing, ISO, workforce training, leadership training, product development, automation solutions and more,” Rafferty said. “TMAC can address the needs of small, medium, and large manufacturers in Texas.”

More than 2,000 industry and educational institutions will open their doors to manufacturers, business owners and others to learn more about manufacturing and how it can help address their business needs. Manufacturing Day is co-sponsored by the National Association of Manufacturers, the Manufacturing Institute, the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership.

About TMAC: TMAC’s mission is to increase the global competitiveness of the Texas economy by working with the extended manufacturing enterprise. TMAC delivers hands-on technical assistance and training to a wide range of businesses, including manufacturing, government, and health care. Focus areas include lean enterprise, technology solutions, strategic management, quality systems, environment, and safety. For more information about the TMAC South Central Office, visit tmac.swri.org.

For more information, contact Deb Schmid, +1 210 522 2254, Communications Department, Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Road, San Antonio, TX 78238-5166.