What exactly is the technology partnership and why is it important to Alabama?
The partnership provides unlimited use of EDS' product lifecycle management (PLM) software as a teaching tool in the Alabama Education system. EDS' PLM suite of product development programs are widely used in industry and are universally adaptable to all manufacturing sectors including, for example, automotive, aerospace, high tech/electronics, machinery and packaged consumer goods.

The grant is given to the entire education system of the State of Alabama; the intention is to get widespread use throughout the middle school through post-secondary institutions. EDS will supply this software to any school that wishes to have it. Gov. Riley, who has identified education as one of the highest priorities for his administration has pledged to bring state of the art technology to the classrooms of Alabama. He has appointed state education department personnel to oversee the issuance of the licenses and copies of the software.

Attracting industry to the State depends on a number of factors, one of which is the ability of the new company to hire, train and retain quality workers. This partnership will give employers a steady supply of trained workers coming right out of the Education system right here in Alabama. Since attracting new industry is also one of Governor Riley's top priorities, this program is beneficial on both frontsÑeducation and economic development.

What will students be learning when they use the donated software?
The software EDS will be donating will help students learn how manufacturing software is used by real-world companies to define, design, build and maintain the products they produce. Some of the specific skills students can develop include:

• Knowledge of Computer-aided design (CAD), manufacturing (CAM) and engineering (CAE) software that creates and analyzes 3D models for the development and machining of mechanical products.
• Design of full 3D models of factories, production lines, tools and factory equipment to maximize productivity.
• Simulation /visualization of a how a product will operate.
• Ways to manage the overall schedule and timelines for manufacturing projects and responsibilities of the employees.
• How to develop a cost analysis of all components of the manufacturing process.
• How to manage sophisticated change control software that allows you to predict the impact of any modifications in the design of a product on how it works, the cost and the manufacturing process.
• Management of databases and work flow control processes.

Thanks to this partnership students will be able to hit the ground running with knowledge to empower economic development within Alabama and beyond.

If a school wanted to get involved with the program and receive the software, how do they go about it?
Schools interested in receiving EDS' PLM software should contact: Bethany Clem in the Alabama Department of Education at bclem@alsde.edu.

What is the history of this partnership?
This initiative originated with Sen. Charles Steele, Alabama state legislator who observed a similar technology education program while visiting Michigan. Sen. Steele immediately recognized the advantage of having Alabama students training in school on the same technical software that is so widely used in industry. In a way, the State actually came to EDS in order to pursue the initiative.

How widely is the EDS PLM software being used by industry today?
EDS' PLM software is used by 39,500 customers worldwide and there are over 2 million "seats" of software in industry that employ EDS PLM Solutions technology. Within the automotive sector, more than 150,000 seats of this software are in use at the world's top 25 automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and their suppliers.

Are there any education institutions in Alabama already using this software successfully in the classroom?
Altogether there are over twenty Alabama schools and colleges currently utilizing PLM as a teaching tool in the classroom. They range from Drake Technical College to the Huntsville City Board of Education; from Auburn University to Wallace State Community College. Tuskegee State University has extensive experience with the software and uses it effectively in the engineering department curriculum.

Why is there no exact figure on the value of the grant?
A fundamental element of the grant to the State is that the number of seats is unlimited, and the educational use of the product is also unlimited. Therefore it is not feasible to estimate the total value.

Is there a time limit on the life of the grant?
There is no time limit for schools to apply for the software, however the objective is to get all schools that are interested involved as quickly as possible. Once the software is installed it is licensed to run for one year. After the first year there is a small annual renewel fee for each institution using the software, which allows the school to stay current with the latest updates and technology.

How will teachers get the training they need so that they can use the software in the classroom?
Teachers and professors may attend formal training classes at any registered EDS PLM Training facility worldwide at no cost. The normal $3,000 to $5,000 tuition fee will be waived for all Alabama Academic Partners. The closest EDS Training facility is at the Huntsville facility, on Discovery Drive. Available classes and schedules are on the EDS PLM Web site.

In addition to formal EDS Training, The Alabama Department of Education and EDS will establish a train the trainer program via Regional PLM Centers of Excellence. These centers will host initial training seminars for large numbers of new academic partners, providing hands-on application and curriculum collaboration among regional colleagues, complemented by area manufacturers and EDS PLM experts. Interested institutions should contact: Bethany Clem in the Alabama Department of Education at bclem@alsde.edu.

Does the grant include computer hardware?
No.

What are the technical requirements that teachers need to participate in the program?
All Teachers already qualify, technically to participate in the program. Some of the best Teachers are in Art and general studies program. The software is easy to use. Basic computer knowledge and a willingness share your knowledge with others are the basic ingredients for success.

Additional information can be obtained by contacting Ken Adami, EDS Government Affairs at Ken.Adami@EDS.com or Hulas King, EDS PLM Solutions at hulas.king@eds.com.