Lily Snyder

November 8th is #NationalSTEMDay. I like being in STEM because my work goes towards building the future.

One of the first times I was able to put my STEM knowledge to use was in college. I volunteered at a Lego Robotics camp for girls. During the two-week course, I saw the girls’ imaginations blossom. I watched as they worked together to build and program their Lego robots to overcome the challenges we set for them. Together, we visited local manufacturing plants and watched in awe at the robots at work on the assembly line. I hope I was a good role model for them, that it’s cool to be excited about robots.

I saw STEM come together full circle on my first project as an MES consultant. We developed and configured software that operators, engineers, and plant managers used in an engine factory. I witnessed first hand how our software helped the operators build an actual product. There is something magical about multiple systems working together. Software, robots, sensors, and humans all in sync to create a fairly seamless assembly line. Every time I look at a semi-truck I think, is there an engine that I saw being built in that truck?

Being in STEM is great because it’s about making something tangible. On the outside science can seem abstract; we’re not sure where the hypothesis is taking us. But it’s the end goal, like creating organs out of manufactured materials or humans living in space that makes STEM so appealing.

Here is a roundup of my favorite posts about STEM

Why you should invest in MES

How to be a positive role model in tech

The Art and Science of IT

Is Digital Transformation just another fad?

5 Clues your MES is “at home” in the plant

3 Easy ways businesses can use AR and VR

Robotic Process Automation