I am excited to be working with key representatives of the American steel industry to develop and implement innovative technical solutions that help promote efficient steel manufacturing and overcome barriers to industry growth and advancement. The establishment of the Steel Manufacturing Simulation and Visualization Consortium provides a venue for industry experts and academics to perform collaborative research on the use of advanced methods of simulation and visualization to address efficiency, reliability, process design, product quality, and other aspects of manufacturing, in a pre-competitive environment. Purdue University Nortwest has a long history of working with the steel industry, and this consortium is taking our involvement to a new level. The consortium also offers unprecedented opportunities for our students to learn through direct involvement with steel company representatives and to become acquainted with the employment potential of American manufacturing.