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Manufacturing Processes & Systems

The manufacturing sector is an engine for economic growth and an important contributor to the country’s economic competitiveness, particularly because growth in the manufacturing sector drives additional activity in other sectors.

In the Department of Mechanical Engineering, manufacturing research is focused not only on developing product, process and system technologies to reduce costs, increase revenue and promote economic growth, but also on developing sustainable technologies in these areas. Some examples of ongoing research efforts include developing predictive modeling tools for total lifecycle-based product designs to reduce material/energy consumption and developing tools and practices to improve performance at the manufacturing systems and supply chain levels. A number of automotive and aerospace manufacturers, as well as their suppliers, and many other manufacturing companies are located within a 100 mile radius from the university. With proximity to industry and strong collaborations with the UK Institute for Sustainable Manufacturing (ISM), Institute for Research and Technology Development (IR4TD) and Power and Energy Institute of Kentucky (PEIK), our program, the Department of Mechanical Engineering is well positioned to advance manufacturing research in the Bluegrass and beyond.

Research Centers and Lab Websites

Researchers

Nelson Akafuah professional headshot

Associate Professor, Chair Department of Engineering Technology, Director of Institute of Research for Technology Development (IR4TD)

Fazleena Badurdeen

Earl Parker Robinson Chair Professor in Mechanical Engineering, Director of Graduate Studies for Manufacturing Systems Engineering

Assistant Professor, Paducah Campus

Professor and James F. Hardymon Chair in Manufacturing Systems; Director of Institute for Sustainable Manufacturing

Associate Professor

Emeritus Professor

Professor Emeritus, Founding Director of Institute of Research for Technology Development (IR4TD)

Industry Extension Specialist

professional headshot of Julius Schoop

Associate Professor

Secat J. G. Morris Aluminum Professor, Mechanical Engineering

First-Year Engineering Senior Lecturer