Digitalization, Industry 4.0, Technology Adoption, and Future Manufacturing (The Real State of Technology Adoption)
Abstract: Original Equipment Manufacturers and large first-tier manufacturing companies have realized the need to utilize digitalization to compete in the global economy. These companies have the resources, funding, and engineering talent to evaluate and implement Industry 4.0, or Smart Manufacturing, capabilities to improve competitiveness and profitability. This is not the case for 90% of the supply chain comprising small- and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs). The Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Manufacturing Systems (ICAMS) initiated a 5 year study to determine the actual state of technology adoption by Small and Medium-sized Manufacturers in the US. This presentation will show the results as of the second year of responses.
Biography: Dr. Harris is the Joe W. Forehand/Accenture Distinguished Professor and Department Chair of Industrial & Systems Engineering at Auburn University, where he teaches courses in Advanced Manufacturing and Systems Engineering. He is the Director of the Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Manufacturing Systems (ICAMS), and Co-Director of the Auburn University Rural Partnership Institute. Before joining the ISE Faculty at Auburn, Dr. Harris was with the U.S. Army, Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center, and served as the founding Government Program Manager for the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (now MxD), a Presidential Initiative to increase innovation and competitiveness in U.S. Manufacturing. Dr. Harris is the former director of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. His work includes research and application in Advanced Manufacturing Systems, Model-Based Enterprise, Industry 4.0/Smart Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, Sustainability, and Supply Networks. Greg has more than 40 years of experience as an Industrial Engineer, Quality Engineer, Operations Manager, Plant Manager, Director of Operations, and Consultant in manufacturing and supply chain. He holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Auburn University, an M.B.A. from St. Edwards University, and his Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He is a registered Professional Engineer and a Fellow of SME.