Texas A&M researchers recognized by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers

Three researchers from the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Texas A&M University were recently recognized by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) for their transformational work in the field of manufacturing.

Dr. Alaa Elwany, assistant professor, and his team received the 2018 David Dornfeld Manufacturing Vision Award.

Dr. Satish Bukkapatnam, Rockwell International Professor, director of the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station’s Institute for Manufacturing Systems and Barbara and Ralph Cox '53 Faculty Fellow; and Dr. Hamid Parsaei, professor at Texas A&M University at Qatar, were elected 2018 SME Fellows.

For more than 85 years, SME has been a leader in manufacturing solutions. Through collaborative efforts, the organization has worked alongside experts, companies, universities and communities to advance manufacturing engineering.

Recognizing outstanding vision and leadership, the David Dornfeld Manufacturing Vision Award is made in tandem with the North American Manufacturing Research Conference’s Blue Sky Competition. The goal of the competition is to identify long-term challenges and new visionary ideas for manufacturing to influence research and education in the U.S.

“This award impacts not only the future of my research in 3D printing for civil infrastructure, but also the entire research discipline at large. The selection panel consisted of industry and government experts, which creates possibilities for establishing large multi-project manufacturing research programs to advance the current state of knowledge,” said Elwany.

During the competition, Elwany and his interdisciplinary team tackled the issue of affordable construction and restoration of civil infrastructure by proposing the integration of 3D printed materials into manufacturing. Their method can offer unique capabilities, including geometric freedom, material-saving through design optimization and functional complexity.

“Reimagining how we build by leveraging new manufacturing technologies, such as 3D printing, has the potential to exponentially increase productivity in the construction industry. According to McKinsey Global Institute, this could create an additional $1.6 trillion of added value per year and boost global gross domestic product by 2 percent,” said Elwany.

The team included Dr. Zachary Grasley, professor in the Zachry Department of Civil Engineering department and director of the Center for Infrastructure Renewal; Dr. Stephanie Paal, assistant professor in the civil engineering department; Dr. Zofia Rybkowski, associate professor in the College of Architecture; and Negar Kalantar, assistant professor in the College of Architecture.

More information about their research for the Blue Sky Competition can be found in the article “Researchers take home first place in manufacturing competition.”

The SME College of Fellows recognizes members who have made outstanding contributions and dedicated themselves to various aspects of manufacturing. In 2018, only seven fellows were elected—two of which hailed from Texas A&M.

Inducted for his work in smart manufacturing, Bukkapatnam has 30 years of experience in engineering. His research has led to more than 150 publications, five pending patents, millions of dollars in grants and 14 best-paper recognitions.

“In any career, you face a lot of ups and downs and you're never certain that you're doing the correct thing, but you have to keep going,” said Bukkapatnam. “This award proves that the efforts of my students, my mentors and my group mean something.”

Smart manufacturing, as Bukkapatnam explained, aims to optimize and modernize. This starts with collecting, analyzing and modeling information recorded by advanced, wireless sensors.

From there, computer systems are programmed with the goal of being able to oversee and maintain manufacturing systems and processes.

“A big aspect of smart manufacturing is how we can deploy technologies, like computational infrastructures, so that the machine’s intelligence is enough to sense if something inside it will fail and be able to alert itself,” said Bukkapatnam. “It is the next generation of machines and the methods, techniques and science that goes into making this vision a reality.”

In addition to his extensive research experience, Bukkapatnam is leading the efforts on campus to grow and advance the manufacturing program offered to students. With cutting-edge physical resources and invaluable expertise from faculty and staff, the program provides students the opportunity to transform their ideas into products.

"Many perceive manufacturing as dingy, dangerous and dirty," Bukkapatnam said in a past interview with The Eagle. "We want to transform that perspective and change the minds of people to see manufacturing as an exciting and illuminating area to work in."

Selected as a 2018 SME Fellow in recognition of over 35 years of expertise, Parsaei has demonstrated leadership in manufacturing systems design, economic decision-making regarding applications to advanced manufacturing systems and engineering education. He has worked on a variety of projects funded by numerous organizations, including IBM, the National Science Foundation, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the Department of Homeland Security.

Through collaboration with SME he has enhanced methodologies that help industry leaders make more informed investment decisions in the area of advanced manufacturing systems, creating a vital tool for the expansion of research and business.

“Many of these proposed methods have been widely adopted by organizations and used to measure the attractiveness of the investment in those environments with non-monetary or intangible attributes,” Parsaei said.

In addition to being a leader in industry and research, Parsaei has devoted himself to advancing education and opportunities for his students by developing automation and robotics laboratories as well as implementing several tools and creative exercises in his classes.

This passionate commitment to education led him to accept leadership positions within professional organizations and become heavily interested in the effects and outcomes of engaging leadership and mentorship. In doing so, he has held offices in local branches of SME and participated in national and international conferences and workshops.

“It is difficult to describe the pride I felt in being recognized and standing among those who also received this honor,” said Parsaei. “I have always held the conviction that manufacturing is the backbone of the economy. It can create successful careers and undoubtedly lends itself to a dynamic and prospering economy. Like many who received this recognition before me, this will certainly not be the end. My journey continues."