Social Mania
Comment
Acepilot
It's good to see companies trying to revitalize Detroit, but to fix that city, ...
Detroit needs help
Rick DeMeis
5/1/2012 12:46 PM EDT
First impressions can mean a lot. Last week I attended the SAE Congress in Detroit. Before even entering the exhibit hall or any of the technical sessions, what struck me most was the massive job fair taking place in the lobby.
Traffic was brisk among the more than 40 companies and concerns recruiting there—from Detroit area firms to the noticeable push by Volkswagen to staff its facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
While such activity is good for individual automotive engineers, that situation has a flip side for the industry. For instance, during a session on future powerplant developments, which heavily emphasized hybrid electric powertrains, more than one panel member noted the lack of engineers being graduated from U.S. universities, especially those with the skills needed to advance powertrain electrification.
As to how to address such problems, ideas mentioned included further cooperation with universities, increased interest in startup companies, use of advanced software development tools, and greater collaboration in industry.
We do indeed live in interesting times.
Traffic was brisk among the more than 40 companies and concerns recruiting there—from Detroit area firms to the noticeable push by Volkswagen to staff its facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
While such activity is good for individual automotive engineers, that situation has a flip side for the industry. For instance, during a session on future powerplant developments, which heavily emphasized hybrid electric powertrains, more than one panel member noted the lack of engineers being graduated from U.S. universities, especially those with the skills needed to advance powertrain electrification.
As to how to address such problems, ideas mentioned included further cooperation with universities, increased interest in startup companies, use of advanced software development tools, and greater collaboration in industry.
We do indeed live in interesting times.
__________________________
Go to the Automotive Designline home page for the latest in automotive electronics design, technology, trends, products, and news. Also, get a weekly highlights update delivered directly to your inbox by signing up for our weekly automotive electronics newsletter here.
|
|
|
|
|
Navigate to related information
Acepilot
5/3/2012 11:02 AM EDT
It's good to see companies trying to revitalize Detroit, but to fix that city, some serious changes in government have to occur. What destroyed Detroit was 40 years of anti-business, tax the rich policies that have completely failed. In the 60's, Detroit was called the "model city" because it embodied these ideas from President Johnsons Great Society. Now, most of the businesses and "rich people" have been driven out and the city is in shambles. Sadly, many people refuse to see that government policy has caused much of Detroit's problems.
Sign in to Reply