GM launches Innovation Challenge

The GM Innovation Challenge will engage students from Pennsylvania State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor

Students are tasked with developing concepts for products and processes that can be deployed on a factory floor.

The GM Innovation Challenge formally kicks off the week of Oct. 6 with teams at each of the four schools selecting a topic, brainstorming ideas and developing concepts that will be presented to a team of GM judges the week of Nov. 3.

The winning team from each school will travel to Detroit for the finals on Nov. 17-18.

Each winning team at the school level will get $500 per team member. The overall winner will get $1,000 per team member and internships at GM during the summer of 2015.

The deadline for students at the four schools to register for the competition is 10 p.m. Sept. 30. The registration link is: http://goo.gl/oAwa86

Below we report two videos released in 2013 by General Motors, showcasing the use of rapid prototyping for the development of the Chevrolet Malibu and a number of interviews explaining different uses of the additive technologies.

Official statements

“This challenge is one of multiple things GM is doing around the world to change the perception that manufacturing employs old-world techniques to build vehicles,” said Kurt Wiese, vice president of Global Manufacturing Engineering.

“In fact, many new and emerging technologies that are often viewed as fads have practical applications in a factory.”

“Wearable devices, augmented reality and 3D printing are perfect examples of the impact a rapid advance in technologies can have in providing solutions not conceived of just a few years, or even a few months ago,” said Anthony A. Atchley, senior associate dean at Penn State University’s College of Engineering

For Jeffrey Motala, manager of vehicle systems integration at GM, the challenge will test the students’ abilities to develop something that can be reasonably implemented, but still push the boundaries of creativity.

“GM employees around the world already look at unconventional tools, technologies and processes and how they can be applied in our factories,” Motala said, mentioning the use of Google Glass to train paint shop employees at GM’s Orion Assembly plant.

“By challenging college students to do the same, we hope to demonstrate the possibilities that await them if they choose a career in manufacturing.”

(Source: General Motors)