High-Performance Manufacturing

Developing more creative, high-tech and impactful manufacturing solutions.

Manufacturing is a bedrock of the U.S. economy. But in this global, high-tech age, manufacturing needs a paradigm shift toward more customized, flexible production using materials in new ways to accomplish more with lower energy intensity, unparalleled combinations of properties and allowing higher throughput. 

Partnering with leaders of industry, federal agencies, professional associations, national labs and other universities, we’re leading manufacturing innovations in polymers, biomedicine, electronic systems, metals, and material processing and characterization. With facilities like our metal foundry and our leadership in America Makes, the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, we’re helping re-envision what manufacturing means in this country. 

Centers and institutes that conduct research in High-Performance Manufacturing

Center for Advanced Polymer Processing

Develops new advanced and functional multiphase complex materials and optimizes the performance of existing ones by integrating the most advanced experimental and computational capabilities. 

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Sears think[box]

Sears think[box] is open for active students, staff, and faculty of CWRU, CIA, and LCCC from 12p-7p on weekdays. We continue to offer remote services for our community members and alumni who are unable to visit our facility.

Please click on the appropriate button below to learn how you can engage with think[box] this spring.

Faculty who conduct research in High-Performance Manufacturing

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Rohan Akolkar

Milton and Tamar Maltz Professor of Energy Innovation
Chief Scientist (Joint Appointmet), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Professor, Chemical Engineering
Director, Electronic Design Center (EDC)

Develops new electrochemical processes for applications including nano-material fabrication, energy storage, electrometallurgy and sensors

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Eric Baer

Distinguished University Professor
Herbert Henry Dow Professor of Science and Engineering
Professor, Macromolecular Science and Engineering
Director, NSF Center for Layered Polymeric Systems

Develops processing-structure-property relationships in polymeric systems; creates micro- and nano-layered films; and produces biomimetic hierarchical structures of soft materials

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Bud Baeslack III

Professor Emeritus, Materials Science and Engineering

Researching materials science and engineering

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Changyong (Chase) Cao

Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Study the mechanics, designs, and manufacturing of smart multifunctional materials, soft robotics, soft electronics, and self-powered sensing systems.

Soft Machines & Electronics Lab

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Jennifer Carter

Faculty Director, SCSAM
Associate Professor, Materials Science and Engineering

deformation mechanisms of metals and metal-matrix composites; fatigue, fracture, and creep; failure analysis; electron microscopy; 3D microscopy; novel methodologies for multi-scale material characterization; data science and analytics; open science

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Sunniva Collins

Associate Dean, Case School of Engineering
Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Engineers metallic surfaces for improved performance; selects materials and designs manufacturing processes for innovative outcomes

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Frank Ernst

Department Chair, Materials Science and Engineering
Leonard Case Jr. Professor of Engineering
Professor, Materials Science and Engineering

Studies and engineers microstructures, interfaces and surfaces of metallic materials by novel methods of processing and microcharacterization

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Robert Gao

Department Chair, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Cady Staley Professor of Engineering
Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Develops multi-physics sensing and stochastic modeling methods for improving observability in dynamical systems

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Umut Gurkan

Wilbert J. Austin Professor of Engineering
Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Improves human health via research in cell mechanics to develop biosensors and point-of-care systems

Biomanufacturing and Microfabrication Lab

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Hatsuo Ishida

Peter A. Asseff, PhD Professor of Organic Chemistry
Distinguished Research Professor
Professor, Macromolecular Science and Engineering

Develops advanced benzoxazine resins, thermosetting resins based on natural renewable materials and green flame retarding systems

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John Lewandowski

Arthur P. Armington Professor of Engineering II
Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Director, Nitinol Commercialization Accelerator
Director, Advanced Manufacturing and Mechanical Reliability Center (AMMRC)

Researches material reliability for biomedical and structural applications, advanced materials manufacturing and processing/microstructure/property relationships. Hybrid Autonomous Manufacturing.

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Kenneth Loparo

Arthur L. Parker Professor
Professor Emeritus, Department of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering
Co-Director, Internet of Things Collaborative (IOTC)

Develop real-time data analytics and control algorithms for industrial, energy and physiological systems

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Joao Maia

Professor, Macromolecular Science and Engineering
Director, CAPP - Center for Advanced Polymer Processing

Develops multi-scale, complex polymer-based materials, using both experimental and computational-based tools

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Ica Manas-Zloczower

Distinguished University Professor
Thomas W. and Nancy P. Seitz Professor of Advanced Materials and Energy
Professor, Macromolecular Science and Engineering

Engineering new materials and technologies for industrial applications

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David Matthiesen

Associate Professor Emeritus, Materials Science and Engineering
Director, Wind Energy Research and Commercialization (WERC) Center

Develops process engineering solutions for the manufacturing of new magnetic materials

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Jim McGuffin-Cawley

Director
Professor, Materials Science and Engineering

Develops new methodologies for material processing, characterizes processing-property relationships, studies high-temperature diffusion and solid-state reactions, fosters industry-university relationships

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Wyatt Newman

Professor Emeritus, Department of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering

Designs intelligent robots, machines and software for diverse applications

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Alp Sehirlioglu

Professor, Materials Science and Engineering

Develops new materials through exploitation of interfaces to control functionality and exploration of multi-functionality for energy-related applications

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Gerhard Welsch

Professor, Materials Science and Engineering

Develops new processing methods and designs for energy storage and optimized materials

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Matthew Willard

Professor, Materials Science and Engineering

Investigates phase transformations and materials processing, especially their impact on structure and properties of materials

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Gary Wnek

Department Chair, Macromolecular Science and Engineering
Joseph F. Toot, Jr., Professor of Engineering
Professor, Macromolecular Science and Engineering

Develops advanced polymers for packaging, biomaterial applications and more.

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Chris Yingchun Yuan

Leonard Case Jr. Professor of Engineering
Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Researches design, manufacturing and sustainability science of lithium ion batteries, solar cells and nanotechnologies.

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Lei Zhu

Professor, Macromolecular Science and Engineering

Develops high-energy and high-performance polymers based on close relationships among structure, property and processing

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Chris Zorman

Associate Dean, Research
Professor, Department of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering
Director, Microfabrication Laboratory
Co-Director, APT Center

Develops materials and processing techniques for microsystems, especially for challenging applications