Technological advancements, ever-evolving necessary skillsets, and an aging workforce have all contributed to a growing labor crisis wherein there are not enough qualified candidates available to fill vacant jobs in the manufacturing sector – in essence, a skilled labor shortage. Certificate programs (earned independently in a two-year college, while working...
In climate regions with large seasonal variations in solar radiation, such as the Pacific Northwest of the United States, a solar thermal energy collector might not economically satisfy year-round domestic water heating demands, requiring an auxiliary unit, such as a natural gas-fired water heater. Previous studies have shown that the...
To manage the effects of manufacturing industries on the economy and environment, design tools are needed that will aid engineers to assess manufacturing costs and environmental impacts early in design. The development of cost analyses and environmental assessments can be burdensome, but much of the data used in these analyses...
Microchannel heat exchangers provide large surface area to volume ratios and accelerated heat transfer, leading to compact form factors for application in portable and distributed thermal management and waste heat recovery. The application of microchannel heat exchangers in industry has been slowed by high manufacturing costs. Therefore, efforts are being...
Adding nanoparticles (NPs) to metalworking fluids (MWFs) has been shown to improve performance in metal cutting. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs), for example, have exhibited the ability to improve lubricant performance, decrease the heat created by machining operations, reduce friction and wear, and enhance...
Sustainability has been the focus of intense discussions over the past two decades, with topics surrounding the entire product life cycle. In the manufacturing phase, research has often focused solely on environmental impact assessment or environmental impact and cost analysis in its assessment of sustainability. Few efforts have investigated sustainable...