Purdue University Calumet is the latest school to join the effort to continue growing Indiana's manufacturing industry. In April, the university announced that it would launch a Commercialization and Manufacturing Excellence Center with the help of a $2.74 million federal grant. The 18,000-square-foot center, which is still in the construction and fundraising stage, will consolidate all of Purdue Calumet's manufacturing training programs, which are currently held at four different sites throughout the campus in Hammond.

This week, College of Technology dean Niaz Latif was announced as the executive director of the Center. He will oversee its development in two phases. The first phase is scheduled to be completed next April and will focus on manufacturing excellence, aided by a financial endowment from Dave Roberts, the CEO of manufacturer Carlisle Companies and a Purdue Calumet alumnus.

Aside from providing training, the Center will serve as an incubator for emerging businesses and technologies and as an exchange link between the university and the community. University leaders also hope to establish partnerships with the other campuses of the Purdue University system.

"The center will provide opportunities for Purdue Calumet faculty and students to commercialize innovative ideas resulting from their research or other intellectual endeavors," said Latif. "It is a facility that will make a difference in Northwest Indiana advancing economic development."

Indiana's manufacturers can benefit from the implementation of manufacturing ERP software, which is available from local IT companies. This software streamlines business by tracking every step of the process, from inventory to distribution, and recording job costs to help manufacturers make more informed investments.