SUMMER 1999
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In this issue 'It's fun and you could learn a lot' -- Kids teach seniors about the Internet IMTC Y2K program goes national Extension attracts new state funding SF 361 helps strengthen Iowa families K-12 youth discover science, technology through E-SET Cultural communications workshops build understanding with service providers, Hispanic populations |
CIRAS product design and development -- Working to improve Iowa's future More and more businesses are recognizing the importance of emphasizing strong product design and development. According to Richard Grieve, interim director of the Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS), "Strengthening these areas is essential to improving Iowa's economic future." Product design and development can have a dramatic impact -- generating more income or enhancing services for Iowa business and industry. CIRAS, part of ISU Extension and the College of Engineering, believes that supporting business and industry is fundamental to Iowa's health and prosperity. CIRAS field specialists are available throughout the state. Don Eichner, a CIRAS engineering specialist, said, "We can help in value-added manufacturing -- adding value to a product." CIRAS provides support for product design and development, production testing, cost estimating, meeting international standards and improving design for manufacturing.
CIRAS recently worked with a new company, Advanced Analytical Technologies, Inc. (AATI), to develop a new line of bacterial analyzers. Two of the four company founders are located on the ISU campus and were familiar with CIRAS when the process started. They came to CIRAS with a preliminary model appropriate for use by researchers in lab settings. According to Shelley Coldiron, one of the founders, "CIRAS was critical in moving our product from the design stage to a product ready for use by technicians in commercial settings." Coldiron said the devices are able to compress the traditional time constraints of growing and analyzing bacteria -- one day to two weeks -- to less than an hour. They are targeted to pharmaceuticals, the food and beverage industry and water treatment applications. What makes the product design and development efforts of CIRAS successful? Grieve, Eichner and Coldiron all agreed -- lower cost, availability of resources and students. For AATI, Coldiron reported that CIRAS has been able to help develop their product more quickly, reducing overhead costs. Grieve said that smaller companies especially are attracted to the state program funding available through the Center for Advanced Technology Development (CATD), a subset of the Institute for Physical Research and Technology (IPRT) and a close partner of CIRAS. The product design and development work also can help to reduce product manufacturing costs. "We have access to a lot of people with specialty expertise on campus," Eichner said. "We provide one-stop shopping for most clients." At CIRAS, every project in the product design and development phase involves students. "Students gain exposure to quality projects," Eichner said. The students are eager to learn, are good at what they do and have high computer skills. He added, "Without question, we couldn't do what we do without the student support." Eichner said that CIRAS is a neutral source of help and
advice. "We do not represent any specific line of products
or software, but offer multiple sources for services or
products a client may need." |
