CDME Holds Research Advisory Committee (RAC) Meeting

The Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence held their quarterly Research Advisory Committee (RAC) meeting on Friday, July 29th. The RAC consists of key faculty, staff, and researchers from Ohio State University and partnered research institutions. Representatives from research areas such as materials science, mechanical engineering, integrated systems engineering, electric and computer engineering, nanotechnology, and aerospace attended.

The meeting began with Mark Kaschner, the National Instruments (NI) representative for The Ohio State University, discussing the National Instruments Strategic Overview. He expressed a desire to create a National Instruments center within CDME to assist faculty with the commercialization of their technologies. John Bair, Executive Director, then updated the group on the CDME center overview, including CDME's model, mission, funding, and faculty engagement.

The group then received an overview of some of the projects the center has completed from Nate Ames, Engineering Manager. Each of these overviews provided an example of a different faculty engagement model, but they all were successfully executed for the industrial customers. Examples ranged from testing services provided for a Fortune 100 company in support of their on-going research with OSU to a full scope engagement with a faculty start-up resulting in design to manufacture prototypes with support developing additional state and federal funding for the company. 

After this discussion, RAC members were able to provide feedback, give guidance and ask questions. The group toured the facility to see the recent renovations and the preparation of facilities for incoming research programs. In the final hour of the event, RAC members and CDME staff participated in a social networking session that was catered with refreshments. The next RAC meeting is being planned for early November 2016.