ADVANCED MANUFACTURING CENTER OF EXCELLENCE

DESIGNED BY CESAR PELLI AND RATIO ARCHITECTS

February 27, 2011

Dr. Dan Dolan

Co-Director
Center of Excellence for Advanced Manufacturing and Production
517 East Saint Joseph Street
Rapid City, South Dakota 57701

Dear Dr. Dolan:

I enjoy your class, Product Development, and I agree that Engineers today need an
opportunity to excel in all aspects of today’s engineer; which involves design, building, testing,
and hands on solving of a variety of engineering challenges. I know that you started CAMP
(Center of Excellence for Advanced Manufacturing and Production) on campus, and that it has
only been around for a short time, so I want to help by giving some ideas that have worked for
other Universities with the development of engineers.

This proposal describes a strategy to make CAMP into a prestigious and well known program
for the School of Mines campus, as well as throughout the country. Included are these main
sections:

1. Creation of a CAMP Center

2. Inside the CAMP Center
3. Importance of the CAMP Center
4. Conclusion

CREATION OF A CAMP CENTER

Students attending the School of Mines today, have with no doubt the intelligence and
creativity to do great things. I think with the development of a new building, designed
specifically for CAMP, students will strengthen and exceed the expectations of their own
abilities. This will not only put Tech’s CAMP program on the map, but also the school.

The CAMP Center would be a state-of-the-art facility that would build competitiveness
for manufacturers by having the most advanced equipment and technology. Labs would be built
around a specific curriculum:

 Science
 Technology
 Engineering
These labs will help educate, develop a workforce, and create business development that will
deliver a team-centered, project-based learning experience.

INSIDE THE CAMP CENTER

There are very few programs that bring together education, workforce and business
development all into one cluster. It will have technology labs specializing in today’s newest
technological advances which are being developed and researched in almost every Engineering
University:

 Mechatronics
 Robotics
 Manufacturing Technology
 Nanotechnology
 etc.

IMPORTANCE OF THE CAMP CENTER

The CAMP Center would still keep the core values that make this program a success:

1. Trust
2. Respect
3. Well-Being
4. Conflict Resolution
5. Goal Establishment
6. Completion of Project

However, with a building specifically designed for the development of today’s Engineer,
Engineers will leave South Dakota School of Mines as a more rounded person. The Advanced
Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AMCE) is a great example of what SDSM&T could be.

A CAMP Center would also influence:

CAMP Vision by Faculty

 Teach teaming
 Teach leadership
 Teach project management skills

CAMP Vision to Students

 Improved Team Skills
 Improved Communication Skills
 Better Understanding of Business
 Clearer Understanding of Fundamentals
CAMP Vision to School
 Improved Industrial Outreach
 Improved Recruiting
 Improved Visibility
 Improved Equipment

CONCLUSION
The goal of CAMP is to better develop an Engineer, with a new CAMP Center however,
we as a University, could develop a new Engineer that Companies all around the globe search
for. An Engineer that can lead, communicate, understand business and create.

I will contact you to further discuss these ideas. If you have any ideas or concerns about
this proposal please contact me. I can begin with finding the cost, develop a schedule, and
manage this project once I have your approval.

Sincerely,

Brogan Pappel