Pellissippi State Community College will soon host a manufacturing symposium on Friday, April 24, from 7:30 to 9 a.m. in the Ruth and Steve West Workforce Development Center at the college’s Blount County campus. Breakfast will be provided.
The symposium, presented by Pellissippi State’s Office of Workforce and Community Development and LaborUp, will focus on the impact of a significant emerging technology: digital twinning.
“We are excited to spotlight digital twinning as part of our Emerging Technologies series,” said Executive Director of Workforce and Community Development Susan Webb-Curtis. “While AI continues to dominate the conversation, we wanted to shine a light on another transformative technology shaping the future.”
A digital twin is a virtual replica of a physical asset, process, or system continuously updated with real-world data, which allows manufacturers to simulate, monitor, and optimize without touching the physical object. This technology is accelerating rapidly and becoming more accessible for smaller manufacturers.
Associate Professor and Animation Program Coordinator Kent McQuilkin will explore how digital twinning has become a transformative technology in manufacturing, with applications across the entire production lifecycle.
McQuilkin, an award-winning animation producer, author, college instructor, animator, and broadcast-studio consultant, has worked with Oak Ridge National Lab, the State Department, the Department of Energy, and others as a 3D Visualization and Simulation designer. He has designed and produced film and television, product labels, and more.
At the symposium, he will discuss his experiences with digital twinning in broadcast television, film, nuclear nonproliferation, process simulation, defense simulation, and its adoption in the manufacturing industry.
“We invite business, education and manufacturing professionals to join us for breakfast and take full advantage of this symposium,” Webb-Curtis said.
Register for Pellissippi’s spring 2026 manufacturing symposium to reserve your spot. The event is free. For additional information, contact Workforce and Community Development.
Pellissippi State Community College is a public community college based in Knox and Blount counties in Tennessee and operated by the Tennessee Board of Regents. The college operates four campuses: Hardin Valley, Blount County, Strawberry Plains and Magnolia Avenue.
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