The Vaughn College Engineering and Technology Department hosted its eighth annual Manufacturing Day Conference on Friday, October 28. The conference focused on the advancement in the engineering and technology industries and showcased the opportunities for manufacturers to highlight their work while raising awareness about the advantages of pursuing a career in manufacturing. This was the first in-person Manufacturing Day since 2019.  

Five speakers addressed participants about autonomous mobile robots in logistics, addictive manufacturing in aerospace, importance of data science and data analytics in business, Base 11 program and the impact of digital transformations to organizations.  

The professional speakers included Vaughn Alum Jefferson Maldonado ’16, director of robotics and automation at ArcBest Technologies; David Sher, co-founder and CEO 3dpbm, Leonard Manhanga, director of data science at W.W. Grainer, Vaughn board member Albert Bunshaft, senior vice president of global affairs, North America for Dassault Systems Americas Corporation and Vaughn adjunct professor Dr. Donovan Wright, cyber security, data analytics and artificial intelligence senior consultant.  

After an introduction from President Dr. Sharon B. DeVivo, Maldonado began the conference by discussing autonomous mobile robots in logistics. Dr. Rahemi delivered closing remarks to conclude the conference and thanked speakers and the Vaughn community for attending. 

In addition to the ongoing conference, the unmanned aerial vehicle and robotics clubs plus student chapters of the Society of Women Engineers and Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers hosted workshops on design and autonomous programming for more than 110 visiting students from Bayside High School, Thomas Edison High School, Freeport High School, Wyandanch High School, Uniondale High School and Hostos Community College. The workshops introduced participants to how drones are built and the entire manufacturing process. Furthermore, the robotics club instructed visiting students on the structural design process for the creation of a robot that would also be able to perform quickly and accurately during a competition. Additionally, participants were able to fly drones in the hangar with club members. 

High school students learning to fly drones.
Dr. Donovan Wright delivers his presentation on digital transformations.