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Design Lessons for Building Agile Manufacturing Systems

Wyatt S. Newman
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department
Case Western Reserve University

Place and Time
Adamson Wing, Baker Hall
Refreshments 3:15 pm
Talk 3:30 pm

Abstract
This presentation summarizes results of a five-year, multidisciplinary, university-industry collaborative effort at Case Western Reserve University, investigating design issues in agile manufacturing. The focus of this project is specifically on light mechanical assembly, with the demand that new assembly tasks be implementable quickly, economically, and effectively. Key to achieving these goals is the ease of equipment and software reuse. Design choices for both hardware and software must strike a balance between the inflexibility of special-purpose designs and the impracticality of overly general designs. Hardware and software design choices are reviewed and recommendations are offered for the design of agile-manufacturing systems.

Speaker Biography
Wyatt Newman, professor of electrical engineering at Case Western Reserve University, specializes in mechatronic design and control with an emphasis on robotics. His eclectic background includes engineering science (Harvard College, S.B.), thermal and fluid sciences (M.I.T., M.S.M.E.), network and control theory (Columbia University, M.S.E.E.) and mechanical engineering design and control (M.I.T., Ph.D.). Dr. Newman has worked in industrial research labs-- Philips Laboratories, Briarcliff Manor, NY (a senior member of research staff) and N.V. Phillips Natuurkundig Laboratorium, Eindhoven, The Netherlands (visiting scientist)--and in government research labs--Sandia National Laboratories, Intelligent Systems and Robotics Center (visiting faculty) and NASA Lewis Research Center (summer faculty fellowships)--and is a former NSF Young Investigator in robotics. Dr. Newman's current research areas include compliant motion control, artificial reflexes, rapid prototyping, medical robotics and agile manufacturing.

Speaker Appointments
For appointments, please contact the host, Vladimir Brajovic, at brajovic+@ri.cmu.edu.