Welcome to the Manufacturing Assistance Center

The Manufacturing Assistance Center (MAC), an initiative of the University of Pittsburgh School of Engineering, offers technical assistance and educational resources to the academic and industrial community of western Pennsylvania. The MAC is an application of the concept of shared manufacturing, created by Dr. Bopaya Bidanda, Ernest E. Roth Professor and Chairman of the Industrial Engineering department of the School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Dr. David I. Cleland, Professor Emeritus in the School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh and others. Serving as an incubator for manufacturing innovation and a center for technology transfer, the MAC offers Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing software tools linked to Computer Numerical Control machine tools at its facility. Working in partnership with private industry, the MAC is part of the development of the regional RoboCorridor, promoting automation and agile robotics.

The MAC's mission is to provide research and educational support to the University of Pittsburgh and to help western Pennsylvania manufacturers and employees gain a competitive advantage in the global economy. The MAC provides access to advanced manufacturing technology, encourages its adoption, and assists in training and educating students in its use.