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Manufacturing

Supporting Growth and Innovation

Alliance institutions bring millions in federal money and faculty expertise to help manufacturers in the Rock River Region revitalize operations for the 21st century. HEARRR helps develop a quality workforce - growing, training, and attracting the finest employees. To meet manufacturers' needs for innovation and continuous improvement, HEARRR institutions transfer the latest technologies, apply research findings, and contribute business expertise. All four Alliance members participate actively in the region's leadership activities for economic planning and problem-solving.

Developing Our Workforce

Though the manufacturing sector of the Rock River Region economy has suffered a major decline in recent years, the region is in a good position to capitalize upon a strong, technically oriented workforce and numerous educational programs that offer training in professions with growth potential.

This growth potential is particularly evident in science and engineering. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that the number of jobs requiring science and engineering (S&E) skills in the U.S. labor force is growing almost 5 percent per year. By comparison, the rest of the labor force is growing at just over 1 percent. Many baby boomers who entered the S&E workforce in the 1960s and 1970s are expected to retire in the next 20 years, which will increase demand in our area.

Alliance institutions deliver academic programs to more than 18,000 students annually in the Rock River Region. For example, Rock Valley College offers associate degree and certificate programs in

  • Computer-Aided Mechanical Design Technology
  • Computers and Information Systems
  • Electronic Engineering Technology
  • Fluid Power Technology
  • Personal Computer Technician Specialist
  • Pre-Engineering
  • Quality Engineering Technology
  • Web Information Technology
  • Welding

RVC also offers apprenticeship programs, in cooperation with area joint apprenticeship committees, including Electrician, Tool and Die/Precision Machinist, Sheet Metal Worker and Iron Worker.

Area residents can also attain a variety of bachelor's and master's degrees in Rockford, including:

  • Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (NIU)
  • Master of Business Administration (MBA), Online (UIC)
  • Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology (NIU)
  • Master of Science in Industrial Management (NIU)
  • Master of Science in Engineering, Online (UIC and UIUC)
  • Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (NIU)
  • Master of Science in Computer Science, Online (UIUC)
  • Master of Science in Management Information Science (MIS), Online (UIS)

In a just-in-time world, constantly shifting demands on a workforce mean that the opportunity to continue training throughout one's career is more vital than ever. Alliance institutions provide a broad spectrum of continuing education opportunities to students and businesses throughout the region, including

  • Leadership, management, team building, and supervisor skills training for local business and industry (RVC).
  • Continuing education courses and certifications in inventory management (APICS), automated skills training, EPA certification, refrigeration, industrial maintenance, electrical and electronics maintenance, multi-skilled technician, integrated systems technology, and other areas on an as-needed basis (RVC).
  • Continuing education for 15,000 Students and Over 100 Businesses.
  • Training and employment services for about 700 dislocated workers a year receive. More than 500 students in 2004 enrolled in adult education workplace programs, including GED, ESL, and literacy testing and instruction (RVC).
  • Reimbursement up to 50% of eligible training costs to area companies provided by RVC-led consortium of five colleges.
  • Customized on-site training from RVC and NIU Business and Industry Services.
  • Customized computer training for local businesses, on-line and traditional (RVC)
  • Academic Boot Camp, a recruitment and training program for potential entry-level manufacturing employees (RVC, in partnership with IMEC).
  • Workforce recruiting and streamlined pathways to better preparation.

Alliance institutions - in partnership with Rockford School District 205 and the Rockford Manufacturing Council's Education Outreach Committee - are developing career pathways in manufacturing and technology to improve the student pipeline. Some examples of that collaborative effort include the following:

  • RVC offers a number of National Engineers Week activities, culminating in a Bridge Building Competition. NIU faculty and graduate students test the results.
  • NIU senior engineering and technology students complete senior design projects for companies in Rock River Region.
  • Rockford College offers undergraduate and graduate interns for area businesses.
  • NIU-RVC streamline transfer opportunities for students.

Research and Technology Transfer

Another example of how Alliance institutions collaborate to benefit the region is in the development of research and technology transfer. Some examples of this work include:

AgTech Initiative logoAgTech Park is a $1.5 million federal grant to find markets for new agricultural products (NIU and RVC).

EIGERlab is a $5.5 million for Building Manufacturing Capacity initiative (NIU and RVC). The lab is a research and development center devoted to advanced manufacturing. At EIGERlab, university experts work with local companies to transform manufacturing by moving from machines that are massive in scale to those that are
"micro." Eigerlab logoThese tabletop-sized "factories" will be used to
produce the miniscule gears, sprockets and other parts for the next generation of machinery to make parts for fuel cells, medical implants (such as artificial hearts or even artificial spines), or in the tiny gyroscopes or switches used in miniaturized military hardware - at a fraction of the cost of current machinery. Such devices are considered by many to be the next great revolution in manufacturing and EIGERlab is intended to put Rockford, and the entire state of Illinois, at the forefront of that revolution.

NIUNet LogoNIUNet, an ultra-fast fiber optic network, will connect RockNet and give the Rock River Region broadband access to the world. NIUNet, which extends roughly 175 miles throughout Chicagoland's western suburbs and northern Illinois, will extend next-generation technology, currently available only at elite research facilities in Chicago, to the rest of the region. NIUNet will advance state-of-the art health care technology, benefit area schools, and help keep much-sought-after high tech jobs from leaving the region for more "connected" communities on either coast.

Other examples of research/technology transfer include:

  • Nanotechnology Education Center: NIU and RVC collaborating to establish one of three such centers in the United States
  • Over 25 specialized research studies annually, including Regional Economic Index Charts and Northwest Illinois Market Facts
  • Critical Skills Shortage research for the region (NIU)
  • Between 2001 and 2004, more than 35 assessments of various labor market sectors to explore needs and feasibility of instructional programs were conducted (NIU, RVC).

Business Development Services

  • IMEC LogoThe Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center housed at NIU Rockford assists with engineering, technical needs, information technology, and marketing support for about 75 small- and medium-sized businesses annually.
  • The Rock River Valley Entrepreneurship Center, an RVC-NIU collaboration, offers startup support for interested entrepreneurs seeking local innovation and training.
  • RVC's Procurement and Technical Assistance Center provides access and support for local industry in landing governmental contracts.
  • WESTEC (the West Suburban Technology Enterprise Center) at NIU supports commercializing new technologies and growing technology-based enterprises in northern Illinois. WESTEC works to accelerate and help entrepreneurs, early-stage, and existing companies develop clear paths to technology commercialization. WESTEC also helps researchers, inventors and entrepreneurs build the infrastructure to support development of groundbreaking technologies.
  • RVC's Small Business Development Center assists in developing business plans and pursuing financial support.
  • RVC's Hass Technical Education Center (HTEC). The HTEC is one of only 40 U.S. sites and is the only facility in Illinois. HTEC serves students wanting to pursue careers in industrial technology and engineering and assists local manufacturers by providing a skilled workforce to meet increasing demands for machinists and CNC programmers.
  • The Rockford Area Economic Development Council, IMEC, NIU, and RVC host the Continuous Improvement series cooperative program.
  • RVC provides training in the principles of lean manufacturing for local companies, including workplace organization, value stream mapping, cellular manufacturing, quick changeover, pull/Kanban, and total productive maintenance.
  • RVC offers Six Sigma training for local companies, with a focus on process improvement and variation reduction.
  • RVC offers training in ISO 9000, 16949, 14000 training-including internal auditor, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GDT), blueprint reading, root cause and analysis, failure mode effect analysis (FMEA), statistical process control (SPC).
  • Alliance institutions also sponsor job fairs and economic forums, host speaker series for local businesses and industries, and provide excellent facility space for conferences, meetings and training sessions.

Leadership

All Alliance institutions participate actively in planning and leadership initiatives with governments and organizations throughout the region. The Alliance is well positioned to be a national model of how institutions, businesses, organizations, and governments collaborate to achieve success. Specifically

  • Close collaboration with the Rockford region's legislators has succeeded in procuring funding to support the AgTech Center and EIGERlab.
  • Rockford Regional Chamber of Commerce and other chambers in the region
  • Rockford Local Development Corp.
  • Rockford Region Economic Development Council
  • Rock River Valley Entrepreneurship Center
  • Support for the Manufacturing Alliance of the Rock River Valley (MARRV) flexible networks
  • Workforce Investment Boards
  • Advisory committees in engineering and technology