Academia Discovers Fastener Industry

September 09

00:00 2009

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FEATURE

Ohio States Department of Mechanical Engineering is housed in the Peter L. and Clara M. Scott Laboratory.

Researchers conduct an efficiency experiment on the transmission dynamometer at the Ohio State College of Engineering Gear and Power Transmission Laboratory.

Fasteners have attracted attention from Ohio State University and El Camino College in Southern California.

Ohio State’s College of Engineering is considering creating a Fastener Research Center.

“We have been in preliminary discussions about creating a Fastener Research Center,” Randy Moses, the interim associate dean for research in the OSU College of Engineering told FIN. “The mission of the proposed center will include research in fastener design, as well as an educational mission both through involving graduate students and through course offering(s),” Moses explained.

“If we do go forward with the center, it would almost surely be a center within the College of Engineering,” Moses added.

Two professors from the Mechanical Engineering Department – associate professor Tony Luscher and Dr. Leo Rusli – would be likely leaders in the new center.

“We do not expect, at the current time, to offer a formal degree program in fastener engineering, and we are currently in discussions about exactly what type of educational offerings – courses, short courses, etc. – that the center might initially provide,” Moses said. “All of these aspects can change over time based on the level of interest and support by our constituent customers in this area – the fastener industry and students.”

Ohio State will work on plans over the next few months. “I would look for a more formal announcement in the mid-October time frame,” Moses estimated.

OSU’s College of Engineering has about 4,800 undergraduate students,1,200 masters and doctorate students and 280 fulltime faculty members.

Programs include aerospace, biomedical, chemical, civil, environmental, computer science, electrical, agricultural, materials, nuclear and mechanical engineering and architecture.

Fastener Research Library

The OSU fastener center would include a “Fastener Research Library.”

Rob Harris, managing director of the Industrial Fasteners Institute, said the IFI will donate books and has offered director of engineering technology Joe Greenslade as a guest lecturer.

If the center is established the IFI will assist OSU in getting equipment donated, Harris added.

For OSU information contact research engineer Leo Rusli, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 201 W. 19th Ave., Columbus, OH 43210. Tel: 614 805-2495

Southern California Program Prepares Students for Aerospace Fastener Jobs

There is a waiting list for the “Aerospace Fastener Boot Camp” at El Camino College.

The Southern California college started the fastener program last year after working with industry partners and forming the Aerospace Fastener Manufacturing Training Alliance.

The first 23 students started an eight-week program at the Compton Center in November 2008 and completed the 320 hours of training by January this year. Another 20 students completed a spring program.

The program includes 40 hours per week in the classroom plus homework. Students may qualify for a paid internship and job placement.

The Industrial Fasteners Institute donated books and will assist the college in getting equipment donated, IFI managing director Rob Harris said.

El Camino projects a need for 200 to 400 workers each year for the next five years. Southern California aerospace fastener manufacturers and distributors employ more than 10,000 people.

The college is now reviewing its fastener training and working with the industry to create a curriculum for future courses.

The specialized training is provided by the Centers for Applied Competitive Technologies and funded by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s office of economic and workforce development.

Earlier this year El Camino reported 300 were on a waiting lit for the boot camp. The program is drawing students primarily from Southern California.

David Gonzales, the El Camino CACT director said it is the only aerospace fastener boot camp in the Western U.S.

AFMTA is working on additional training leading to an A.S. degree in Aerospace Fastener Manufacturing Technology.

El Camino dean Rodney Murray said the fastener program “meets the distinct needs of students, the job market and our surrounding communities.”
“There is no job shortage, only a skill shortage,” instructor Stanley Johnson said.

The first class included homeless individuals, veterans, recovering substance abusers, the first woman welder in the Air Force and a mechanical engineer.

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