by Andrei Gabrielle Adlawan
WITH THE INSTITUTE’S priority of ensuring that the engineering and technology academic programs of MSU-IIT will be optimally relevant to industry practices, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension, through FAB LAB Mindanao, hosted the Industry Lecture on Design for Manufacturing on August 29, 2019 at the Premier Research Institute of Science and Mathematics.
The industry lecture was conducted by the founder and CEO of Vaquform, Mr. John Truman Tan. An industrial designer and a lecturer at the University of the Philippines-Diliman College of Fine Arts, Tan introduced the first digital desktop vacuum former which is now widely used by various maker spaces and industries.
He also shared his mass production experiences in Shenzhen, China along with discussions on the importance of achieving an effective prototype production open for the market, how to make these prototypes ready for manufacturing, as well as the challenges faced by hardware innovators and proposed solutions in transforming prototypes ready for manufacturing and production lines.
The highlight of the lecture was the unboxing of Vaquform, a desktop thermoformer, in FAB LAB Mindanao, which gave individuals and businesses open access to thermoforming.
Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance, Dr. Feliciano B. Alagao concluded the day’s activity by reiterating the Institute’s priority in research and innovation while challenging MSU-IIT constituents to integrate design for manufacturing in the development of relevant research outputs.
The industry lecture was attended by faculty members, researchers, students from the College of Engineering and Technology and the College of Computer Studies, MSU-IIT’s industry partners and institutions from Cagayan de Oro, Butuan, Bukidnon, and Marawi City.