MIT and Product Design & Manufacturing Industries

MIT Industry Brief

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MIT and Product Design & Manufacturing Industries

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a leading center of research and education on topics important to prod-uct design and manufacturing industries such as:

• Engineering

• Industry-specificmanufacturing(pharma;photovoltaics;vehicles)

• Management/organizationalcontrol

• Manufacturing-relatedEducation&ResearchPrograms

• Productdesign

• Processes&systems

• Sustainability

• Supplychainmanagement/logistics/transportation

Below are brief descriptions of a selection of MIT centers, departments, groups, and labs conducting research and educa-tion in these areas. Please note that this is not a comprehensive summary of research being conducted at MIT in the topic ar-eas listed above and the center or lab, etc., may fall into more than one category.

ENGINEERING

Research in the Center for Computational Engineering (CCE) is focused on building computational tools for engi-neering problems: the development of new computational tools that are more efficient, more robust, or more capable; and the informed application of existing computational tools — in concert with modeling, experimental, and “analytical”

approaches — to address particular engineering problems and questions. Projects are focused on several major methodol-ogy themes, and several major applications themes, includ-ing, among others, materials & manufacturing; infrastructure systems & services; and transportation.

The Lab for Nanoengineered Surfaces, Interfaces, and Coat-ings works to bring about transformational efficiency enhance-ments in various industries including energy, water, agricul-ture, transportation, and electronics cooling by fundamentally altering thermal-fluid-surface interactions across multiple length and time scales. The group enables this approach via highly interdisciplinary research focused on nanoengineered surfaces and interfaces, thermal-fluid science and new materi-als discovery combined with scalable nanomanufacturing for significant efficiency gains, reduction in CO2 emissions, and prevention of catastrophic failures in real industrial applica-tions.

The Laboratory for Electromagnetic and Electronic Sys-tems (LEES) provides the theoretical basis, and component, circuit and system technologies required to develop advanced electrical energy applications. LEES research areas include electronic circuits, components and systems, power electronics and control, micro- and macro-electromechanics, electromag-netics, continuum mechanics (the interaction of fields with fluids and other deformable media), high voltage engineering and dielectric physics, manufacturing and process control, and energy economics.

The Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems (LIDS) develops novel analytical methodologies and tools for system modeling, analysis, design, and optimization, as well as the adaptation and application of these methods to various domains,

MIT and Product Design & Manufacturing

including both physical and man-made systems. Much of the research in LIDS revolves around: Systems and control; com-munications and networks; and inference and statistical data processing. LIDS research relies on the analytical founda-tions provided by various mathematical disciplines, such as probability and statistics, dynamic systems, and optimization and decision theory. It also strives to advance these founda-tions along new directions, relevant to emerging engineering problems.

The Microsystems Technology Laboratories (MTL) is an interdepartmental laboratory that supports research and educa-tion in micro- and nano- systems, devices, and materials. The MTL research encompasses work in circuits and systems, MEMS, electronic and photonic devices, and molecular and nanotechnology. MTL also works with industry through an in-dustrial consortium called the Microsystems Industrial Group (MIG), as well as focused research centers such as Integrated Circuits and Systems, Graphene Devices and Systems, Gal-lium Nitride Energy.

The necstlab (nano-engineered composite aerospace struc-tures) research group explores new concepts in engineered materials and structures. The group’s mission is to lead the advancement and application of new knowledge at the fore-front of materials and structures understanding, with research contributions in both science and engineering. Applications of interest include enhanced (aerospace) advanced composites, multifunctional attributes of structures such as damage sens-ing, and also microfabricated (MEMS) topics. A significant effort has been to use nanoscale materials to enhance perfor-mance of advanced aerospace materials and their structures through the industry supported NECST Consortium.

The MIT Strategic Engineering group works in rigorous and quantitative ways, developing new integrated approaches based on the principles of systems architecture and systems engineering, design theory, complexity science, management of technology, project management, as well as strategy and economics. Strategic Engineering is the process of architecting and designing complex systems and products in a way that de-liberately accounts for future uncertainty and context in order to maximize their lifecycle value.

INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC MANUFACTURING

The MIT Biomanufacturing (BioMAN) Research Program, in the Center for Biomedical Innovation (CBI), is dedicated to developing new knowledge, science, technologies and strate-gies that advance the manufacture and global delivery of high quality biopharmaceuticals. BioMAN fosters a collaborative research environment that brings together thought leaders from industry, the government/FDA and academia. The program’s ac-

tivities are focused on: Advanced product and process analysis for optimized quality manufacturing; flexible modular platforms for biotherapeutic production and delivery; assessment and mitigation of risk in biopharmaceutical production; and global delivery of biopharmaceuticals.

The Consortium on Adventitious Agent Contamination in Biomanufacturing (CAACB), in the Center for Biomedical Innovation (CBI), is focused on the confidential collection and analysis of industry adventitious agent contamination data, and the dissemination of the most effective industry practices used to combat contaminations during the reliable manufacture of life-saving biotherapeutic medications. The CAACB seeks to develop a comprehensive understanding of adventitious agents encountered, the source of such agents, and a risk-based analysis of the most effective barriers to contamination. The collection, analysis and dissemination of this information should enhance the uninterrupted supply of vital, safe and effective biotherapeutic medications.

The Novartis-MIT Center for Continuous Manufacturing is a 10-year research collaboration (begun in 2007) aimed at trans-forming pharmaceutical production. Combining the industrial expertise of Novartis with MIT’s scientific and technological leadership, the Center develops new technologies to replace the pharmaceutical industry’s conventional batch-based system with a continuous manufacturing process. Initial research is con-ducted primarily through PhD programs at MIT laboratories and involves MIT faculty members, students, postdoctoral fellows, and staff scientists.

The Photovoltaic Manufacturing Lab is working to develop a kerfless silicon wafer manufacturing technology that will sub-stantially reduce the production costs of high quality multicrys-talline silicon wafers.

The Engine and Fuels Research Consortium has been actively engaged in engine research since 1981, with membership consisting of US and European light-duty vehicle manufactur-ers and petroleum companies. The focus of research projects is on spark-ignition engine combustion, emissions formation processes, and mixture preparation issues. Research themes and individual projects evolve through discussions with Consortium members at regular meetings held every four months.

MANAGEMENT / ORGANIZATIONAL CONTROL

The MIT Center for Digital Business is focused on being the leading source of innovation, knowledge creation, dissemination and utilization, in management theory and practice for digital business. The Center has established a large-scale research program to investigate the latest trends and techniques in digital business and has worked with more than 50 corporate sponsors.

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MIT and Product Design & Manufacturing

The core of this program is the custom matching of sponsor companies with MIT faculty to form research teams that ad-dress issues that are relevant to both industry and academia. Broad areas of focus include digital marketing, digital produc-tivity, digital services, and the cloud.

The Center for Information Systems Research (CISR) con-ducts field-based research on issues related to the management and use of information technology in complex organizations. CISR’s mission is to develop concepts and frameworks to help executives address the IT-related challenges of leading increasingly dynamic, global, and information-intensive orga-nizations. Research results are disseminated primarily through working papers, research briefings, an annual conference, and sponsor forums.

The Industrial Performance Center (IPC) is dedicated to the study of innovation, productivity and competitiveness in the U.S. and around the world. The IPC interdisciplinary teams observe, analyze, debate and report on strategic, technological, and organizational developments in a broad range of indus-tries and examine the implications for society and the global economy. The IPC research program is organized around the following themes: energy; globalization; innovation; and production.

The MIT Sociotechnical Systems Research Center (SSRC) is a cross-disciplinary research center that focuses on the high-impact, complex, sociotechnical systems that shape our world. SSRC applies a systems thinking approach across engineer-ing, management, and social sciences. Collaborations include research in automotive, biomedical, healthcare, energy, envi-ronment, global economy, information quality, cybersecurity, mobility, productivity, and materials systems.

MANUFACTURING-RELATED EDUCATION & RESEARCH PROGRAMS The MIT Engineering Systems Division (ESD) recognizes that many of today’s most complex and pressing challenges require innovative and interdisciplinary approaches. Chal-lenges such as making healthcare affordable and accessible, managing global manufacturing and supply chains, rebuilding crumbling infrastructures, and working toward energy security don’t have purely technical solutions. They involve technol-ogy, processes, and policies. ESD students and faculty address such challenges using interdisciplinary approaches rooted in engineering, management, and social sciences.

The Leaders for Global Operations (LGO) program is a col-laboration among MIT Sloan School of Management, MIT School of Engineering, and industry partners. LGO program students receive two degrees in two years: either an MBA

or an MS in Management degree from MIT Sloan School of Management, and an MS degree from one of eight de-partments in the School of Engineering. The program gives students a solid background in critical areas of manufacturing, including manufacturing processes, design and development, operations management, information technology, teamwork, leadership, change management, and systems thinking.

The Materials Processing and Manufacturing Institute (MPMI) is a partnership between academia and industry that addresses common needs in engineering education and research. The MPMI offers a practice-oriented graduate degree program that trains engineers for complex processing and manufacturing environments and helps develop new and improved manufacturing processes directly related to indus-trial needs. A key feature of the MPMI is university-industry collaboration, with respect to both the educational and the research components of the program.

The Operations Research Center (ORC) provides educa-tional and research opportunities for students and faculty interested in the interdisciplinary field of operations research, which draws upon ideas from engineering, management, mathematics, and psychology to apply scientific methods to decision-making. The MIT ORC draws faculty from 8 differ-ent departments at MIT, including members from each school. ORC faculty contribute to a wide range of application domains such as flexible manufacturing systems; financial engineer-ing services; air traffic control; transportation systems; public services, such as urban emergency systems; safety and risk analysis in air transportation; and more.

The MIT-Portugal Program: Engineering Design & Ad-vanced Manufacturing (EDAM) focus area goals are to develop a new paradigm for engineering education that closely links high quality research to curricular programs, and, to promote an entrepreneurial approach to knowledge-based manufacturing and competitive product design. The EDAM research agenda places a high priority on projects that enhance course delivery in the two degree programs and enable new collaborations between Portuguese and MIT researchers and industrial affiliates.

The MIT Sloan School of Management is one of the world’s leading business schools — conducting cutting-edge research and providing management education to top students from more than 60 countries. The mission of the Sloan School is to develop principled, innovative leaders who improve the world and to generate ideas that advance management practice. MIT Sloan offers undergraduate, master’s, PhD, executive educa-tion and non-degree programs together with special seminars, conferences, and programs for alumni. More than 650 compa-nies have been founded by MIT Sloan alumni.

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MIT and Product Design & Manufacturing

PRODUCT DESIGN

The MIT Ideation Lab focuses on design through several per-spectives: People—the group considers the people and teams who conduct design, and the end users of designed artifacts; Products—the group’s investigates the assessment of design outcomes, both during their creation and after they are in use; and Processes—the lab examines the activities involved in designing as well as more formal methodologies for synthesiz-ing design.

The Mediated Matter Group focuses on biologically inspired design fabrication tools and technologies aiming to enhance the relation between natural and man-made environments. The group’s research field entitled Material Ecology inte-grates computational form-finding strategies with biologically inspired fabrication. This design approach enables the media-tion between objects and environment; between humans and objects; and between humans and environment. The group’s goal is to enhance the relation between natural and man-made environments by achieving high degrees of design customiza-tion and versatility, environmental performance integration and material efficiency. We seek to establish new forms of design and novel processes of material practice at the intersec-tion of computer science, material engineering, design and ecology, with broad applications across multiple scales.

The vision of the Medical Electronic Device Realization Center (MEDRC) is to transform the medical electronic device industries (wearable or minimally invasive monitoring devices, medical imaging, laboratory instrumentation, and the data communication from these devices and instruments). The MEDRC establishes a partnership between the microelectron-ics industry, the medical devices industry, medical profession-als, and MIT to collaboratively achieve improvements in the cost and performance of medical electronic devices. The suc-cessful realization of such a vision also demands innovations in the usability and productivity of medical devices, and new technologies and approaches to manufacture devices.

PROCESSES & SYSTEMS The Center for Bits and Atoms (CBA) is an interdisciplinary initiative exploring the boundary between computer sci-ence and physical science. CBA studies how to turn data into things, and things into data. It manages facilities, runs research programs, supervises students, works with sponsors, creates startups, and does public outreach. CBA researchers research and work in the areas of digital materials and assemblers; biobits; machines that make machines; fab labs and modules; programmable surfaces and matter; mind machines; and the internet of things.

The Center for Polymer Microfabrication (CPM) works to create a fundamental basis for the design and optimal opera-tion of the processes used to manufacture microfluidic devices with micron and sub-micron sized capillaries. The Center’s research focuses on 1) the materials and mechanics aspects of several polymer-based manufacturing processes, 2) preci-sion tooling and equipment design and analysis predicated on sophisticated machine- and process-control principles, 3) metrology (measurement) techniques to analyze parts and tooling in order to close the quality manufacturing loop for these products, 4) systems analysis, to understand the factory and the supply-chain.

The Laboratory for Manufacturing and Productivity (LMP) is an interdepartmental laboratory dedicated to the develop-ment and application of the fundamental principles of manu-facturing systems, processes, and machines. The laboratory seeks to establish a rational foundation for manufacturing based on a systematic understanding of the complex interac-tions among the many areas of manufacturing. Research along those lines has led to innovation in manufacturing processes and better understanding of planning, design, and production operations.

The Nanophotonics / 3D Nanomanufacturing Group is dedicated to multidisciplinary fields including nano-optics, photonic/acoustic metamaterials, as well as life sciences. The group studies the fundamental physics of nano-optics and its application in super-resolution imaging, high-speed/low-cost optical modulation device, high sensitivity biology sensor, etc. High-throughput micro-/nano-fabrication techniques are de-veloped to manufacture novel 2D/3D structures. The group is the pioneer of an acoustic metamaterial study to demonstrate the negative index and super-resolution focusing in ultrasonic wave.

The MIT Partnership for a Systems Approach to Safety (PSAS) initiative endeavors to create new tools and processes that implement a systems approach to safety. PSAS multidis-ciplinary affiliates are working on safety in aviation (aircraft and air transportation systems), spacecraft, medical devices and healthcare, automobiles, railroads, nuclear power, defense systems, energy, and large manufacturing/process facilities (such as oil and gas).

The MIT Precision Engineering Research Group (PERG): From consumer products to the machines that make them (e.g., diamond turning machines and wafer steppers), the abil-ity to precisely control motion is critical to the success of any manufacturing-based economy. This research group focuses on discovery, design engineering, and building/testing, espe-cially in the areas of medical device design; renewable energy systems; precision machine design.

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MIT and Product Design & Manufacturing

The Production in the Innovation Economy (PIE) initiative seeks to analyze the state of production in the United States and to propose new routes from innovation through manu-facturing to jobs and growth in the United States. The group sees exciting developments emerging in laboratories like those at MIT in areas including energy, life sciences, trans-portation, environment, communication, construction, and security. To transform these technologies into strong flows of new products, services, and processes, innovation in systems of production different from old-style manufacturing need to be stimulated. The PIE study challenges the commonly held notion that simply investing in upstream innovation and R&D will automatically lead to prosperity that benefits the nation as a whole.

The Self-Assembly Lab is a cross-disciplinary lab at MIT composed of designers, scientists and engineers inventing self-assembly technologies aimed at reimagining processes of construction, manufacturing, and assembly at all scale-lengths. The group has demonstrated that self-assembly is scale-inde-pendent and can be utilized for self-constructing and manufac-turing systems at nearly every scale. The lab is working with academic, commercial, nonprofit, and government partners, collaborators, and sponsors to make the self-assembling future a reality. Self-assembly promises to enable breakthroughs across every applications of biology, material science, soft-ware, robotics, manufacturing, transportation, infrastructure, construction, the arts, and even space exploration.

SUSTAINABILITY

The MIT Center for Energy and Environmental Policy and Research (CEEPR) is dedicated to rigorous and objective empirical research on issues related to energy and environ-mental policy to support decision-making by government and industry. The results of the research are disseminated through publications, workshops, educational programs and other public outreach activities. Economics research at CEEPR is integrated with engineering and science in collaboration with faculty throughout MIT. The relevance and validity of the re-search is enhanced through cooperation with government and industry associates in countries around the globe. The center focuses on the following research areas: electricity restructur-ing; emissions trading; climate change; human welfare and the environment; investment, finance, and risk management.

The Environmentally Benign Manufacturing (EBM) re-search group is part of the Laboratory for Manufacturing and Productivity (LMP) and the Mechanical Engineering Depart-ment focused on examining the environmental effects associ-ated with manufacturing and products. Research areas include: the thermodynamic, economic, and life cycle assessment of manufacturing processes and systems, products and recycling

systems. Additional work looks at the environmental effects from the consumption side of the issue.

The Materials Systems Laboratory (MSL) studies the strate-gic implications of materials and materials processing choices. MSL research seeks to understand the competitive position of materials in specific applications, such as assessment of different candidate materials, assessment of process technolo-gies, and evaluation of both the economic and non-economic consequences of each alternative. The MSL develops quan-titative tools whenever possible to address direct manufac-turing costs of each alternative and total lifecycle costs, and sustainability factors. MSL methodologies include technical cost modeling, lifecycle cost and emissions tracking, decision analysis techniques, systems dynamics modeling, and system cost modeling.

SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT / LOGISTICS / TRANSPORTATION

The Carbon-Efficient Supply Chains initiative in the Center for Transportation and Logistics addresses three challenges in developing carbon-efficient strategies for supply chains: Measurement; Strategy & Decision Making; and, Labeling & Reporting.

The Center for Transportation & Logistics (CTL) is widely recognized as an international leader in the field of transpor-tation and logistics. Along with basic contributions to the understanding of transportation system planning, operations and management, its efforts include significant contributions to logistics modeling and supply chain management for ship-pers; to technology and policy analysis for government; and to management, planning and operations for trucking, railroad, air and ocean carriers.

The MIT Forum for Supply Chain Innovation (the Forum) is composed of academics and industry members whose sup-port allows Forum researchers to provide customer-focused solutions to design and manage the new supply chain. . Research topics have included: multi-agent systems for supply chain innovation; supply contracts; electronics supply chain; dynamic supply chain evolution; supply chain integration; optimizing buy/make decisions; inventory management and dynamic pricing; supply chain strategies; RFID real-time data in adaptable supply chain management; and distributed inter-active simulation.

The MIT Global SCALE (Supply Chain and Logistics Excel-lence) Network is an international alliance of leading-edge research and education centers. The SCALE Network allows faculty, researchers, students, and affiliated companies from all

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MIT and Product Design & Manufacturing

four centers (MIT; Colombia; Malaysia; Spain) to pool their expertise and collaborate on projects that will create supply chain and logistics innovations with global applications, and help companies to compete in an increasingly complex busi-ness environment.

The MIT Megacity Logistics Lab focuses on understanding and transforming the supply chains that interface with sprawl-ing urban centers.

The Supply Chain 2020 (SC2020) Project is a multiyear research effort, launched in 2004, to identify and analyze the factors that are critical to the success of future supply chains. This pioneering project will map out the process innova-tions that will underpin successful supply chains as far into the future as the year 2020. Initiated by the MIT-Zaragoza International Logistics Program, the global research project involves dozens of faculty, research staff, and students at MIT and institutions around the world.

The MIT-Zaragoza International Logistics Program brings together the supply chain interests of academia, industry and government. The program was established in 2003 by the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics (CTL), the University of Zaragoza, the Government of Aragón, industry partners, and the PLAZA logistics park in Zaragoza, Spain. The educa-tion program offers a master’s degree, a doctorate degree, and executive education courses leading to certificates in various logistics-related disciplines.

ThemissionoftheMassachusettsInstituteofTechnologyistoadvanceknowledgeandeducatestudentsandothersinscience,technology,andadditionalareasofscholarship.MITiscommittedtogenerating,disseminatingandpreservingknowledgeandtoworkingtobringthisknowledgetobearontheworld’sgreatchallenges.Aspartofitsmission,MITmaintainsrelationshipswithindustrialorganizationsthatenabletheexchangeofideasinthecontextofreal-worldproblemsanddemonstratehowprinciplesstudiedatMITareappliedtogeneratepracticalbenefitsforindustryandsociety.MIT’sIndustrialLiaisonProgramhelpsdeveloptheserelationshipsbyfacilitatingindustry’saccesstoMITanditsvastresources.

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