Manufacturing Assistance Center

Organizational Structure

The Manufacturing Assistance Center (MAC) is an initiative of the Department of Industrial Engineering Department of the University of Pittsburgh's School of Engineering. The MAC strives to strengthen its relationship with the University and the community by fulfilling its mission; 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. Strategic decisions are the responsibility of directors, Dr. Cleland and Dr. Bidanda. Day to day operation of the MAC is the responsibility of Plant Manager, Bill Peduzzi, and his staff on-site at the Center.

Dr. David I. Cleland and Dr. Bopaya Bidanda, Co-directors

Dr. David I. Cleland is Professor Emeritus in the School of Engineering,University of Pittsburgh. He is a Fellow of the Project Management Institute (PMI) and specializes in Strategic Management and Project
Management. He is widely considered to be the "Father of Project Management." Professor Cleland joined the department in 1967. He has also taught at the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, and worked for the US Air Force as a project manager in the design, development and manufacture of weapon systems.

Professor Cleland has had extensive experience as a lecturer on Project Management and Team Management throughout the United States and in foreign countries. He has served as a management consultant, and as an expert witness on several major court cases. He is the author/editor of 31 books in the field of project management, engineering management, and manufacturing management. He has received funding for fifteen major research projects during his academic career. The recipient of numerous awards, including two awards of the Distinguished Contribution to Project Management by the Project Management Institute, he was elected a Fellow of the Project Management Institute in 1987. In 1997, he was honored with the establishment of the "David I. Cleland Excellence in Project Management Literature Award" sponsored by the Project Management Institute. His primary research interests are in the field of project management and team management.

Dr. Bopaya Bidanda - Ernest E. Roth Professor & Chairman
Education: Ph.D. (Industrial and Operations Engineering): Pennsylvania State University
Areas of Expertise: Computer-Integrated Manufacturing Systems

Professor Bidanda joined the department in 1987 upon completing his doctoral studies at Pennsylvania State University. Professor Bidanda is the Co-Director of the Manufacturing Assistance Center at the University of Pittsburgh. He has industrial experience in manufacturing systems, tools, and precision manufacturing. His research focus includes Computer Integrated Manufacturing Systems and Robotic Applications, Time Compression Technologies such as Rapid Prototyping and Reverse Engineering, traditional Industrial Engineering, Automated Data Collection and Shared Manufacturing. He works closely with manufacturing industries in Western Pennsylvania in the area of cellular manufacturing, work measurement, automatic data collection, and shopfloor information systems. He has published widely in international journals and conference proceedings. He has been the editor of two volumes entitled, Automated Factory and Shared Manufacturing. He has also been a co-editor of the Industrial Engineering Research Conference Proceedings. He is a senior member of the Institute of Industrial Engineers and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. Dr. Bidanda currently serves as a Director of the Pittsburgh chapter of the IIE.

Plant Manager

Responsible for the day-to-day operation of the MAC. He oversees and manages projects, assists in grant writing, class instruction, curriculum development, schedules classes and technicians, tracks and reports performance, initiates business development.

Outreach Coordinator

Responsible for recruiting students, assisting students in finding financial support and providing support for students while searching for jobs as well as maintaining contacts with local agencies that provide funds for training displaced workers.

Robert Beatty, Manufacturing Specialist, Systems Analyst, Instructor

Responsible for managing shop floor activities, training students in CAD/ CAM, CNC Machining and Electric Discharge Machining.

Mr. Beatty has an Associate Degree from Point Park College and a Bachelors Degree from Carnegie Mellon University. He spent 15 years at Composidie, a manufacturer of precision progressive dies. Mr. Beatty has earned a reputation as a national expert on EDM. Mr. Beatty is currently pursuing a masters degree in Industrial Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh.

Chuck Slagle, Precision Surface Grinding and Computer Aided Design Instructor

Responsible for curriculum development, lesson plan preparation and training students in precision surface grinding and Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing.

Mr. Slagle has over 33 years of manufacturing and instructional experience. Manufacturing experience includes precision surface grinding, tool and die design and detailing and designing automated processes. Instructional experience includes precision surface grinding apprenticeship training at Oberg Manufacturing, key personnel and staff development training and in teaching print reading, CAD and mathematics.

James Pitkavish, Instructor

Responsible for training students in machining fundamentals and manual machine tool operations for milling, drilling and turning and CNC machine tool operation for turning and milling.

Mr. Pitkavish has 26 years experience working and instructing as a machinist. He was a machinist at Penn United Technologies, Westinghouse EMD, and the United States Air Force. He was a new recruit trainer and advanced machinist instructor while serving in the Air Force.

William Gernert, Part-time Consulting Engineer

Responsible for outreach efforts with manufacturers, assisting in student placement, initiating and coordinating support from university engineering faculty and graduate students, conducting market research and assisting in planning.

Mr. Gernert has a Bachelors Degree in Engineering and an MBA. He has over 30 years experience as an engineer and administrator for Westinghouse Electric and close to 10 as the Director of Technology in a state funded technology based economic development organization where he became familiar with the operation and management of approximately 1000 Western PA manufacturers.


		Staff
		Organizational Structure The Manufacturing Assistance Center (MAC) is an initiative of the Department of Industrial Engineering Department of the University of Pittsburgh's School of Engineering. The MAC strives to strengthen its relationship with the University and the community by fulfilling its mission; 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. Strategic decisions are the responsibility of directors, Dr. Cleland and Dr. Bidanda. Day to day operation of the MAC is the responsibility of Plant Manager, Bill Peduzzi, and his staff on-site at the Center. Dr. David I. Cleland and Dr. Bopaya Bidanda, Co-directors Dr. David I. Cleland is Professor Emeritus in the School of Engineering,University of Pittsburgh. He is a Fellow of the Project Management Institute (PMI) and specializes in Strategic Management and Project Management. He is widely considered to be the "Father of Project Management." Professor Cleland joined the department in 1967. He has also taught at the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, and worked for the US Air Force as a project manager in the design, development and manufacture of weapon systems. Professor Cleland has had extensive experience as a lecturer on Project Management and Team Management throughout the United States and in foreign countries. He has served as a management consultant, and as an expert witness on several major court cases. He is the author/editor of 31 books in the field of project management, engineering management, and manufacturing management. He has received funding for fifteen major research projects during his academic career. The recipient of numerous awards, including two awards of the Distinguished Contribution to Project Management by the Project Management Institute, he was elected a Fellow of the Project Management Institute in 1987. In 1997, he was honored with the establishment of the "David I. Cleland Excellence in Project Management Literature Award" sponsored by the Project Management Institute. His primary research interests are in the field of project management and team management. Dr. Bopaya Bidanda - Ernest E. Roth Professor & Chairman Education: Ph.D. (Industrial and Operations Engineering): Pennsylvania State University Areas of Expertise: Computer-Integrated Manufacturing Systems Professor Bidanda joined the department in 1987 upon completing his doctoral studies at Pennsylvania State University. Professor Bidanda is the Co-Director of the Manufacturing Assistance Center at the University of Pittsburgh. He has industrial experience in manufacturing systems, tools, and precision manufacturing. His research focus includes Computer Integrated Manufacturing Systems and Robotic Applications, Time Compression Technologies such as Rapid Prototyping and Reverse Engineering, traditional Industrial Engineering, Automated Data Collection and Shared Manufacturing. He works closely with manufacturing industries in Western Pennsylvania in the area of cellular manufacturing, work measurement, automatic data collection, and shopfloor information systems. He has published widely in international journals and conference proceedings. He has been the editor of two volumes entitled, Automated Factory and Shared Manufacturing. He has also been a co-editor of the Industrial Engineering Research Conference Proceedings. He is a senior member of the Institute of Industrial Engineers and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. Dr. Bidanda currently serves as a Director of the Pittsburgh chapter of the IIE. Plant Manager Responsible for the day-to-day operation of the MAC. He oversees and manages projects, assists in grant writing, class instruction, curriculum development, schedules classes and technicians, tracks and reports performance, initiates business development. Outreach Coordinator Responsible for recruiting students, assisting students in finding financial support and providing support for students while searching for jobs as well as maintaining contacts with local agencies that provide funds for training displaced workers. Robert Beatty, Manufacturing Specialist, Systems Analyst, Instructor Responsible for managing shop floor activities, training students in CAD/ CAM, CNC Machining and Electric Discharge Machining. Mr. Beatty has an Associate Degree from Point Park College and a Bachelors Degree from Carnegie Mellon University. He spent 15 years at Composidie, a manufacturer of precision progressive dies. Mr. Beatty has earned a reputation as a national expert on EDM. Mr. Beatty is currently pursuing a masters degree in Industrial Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. Chuck Slagle, Precision Surface Grinding and Computer Aided Design Instructor Responsible for curriculum development, lesson plan preparation and training students in precision surface grinding and Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing. Mr. Slagle has over 33 years of manufacturing and instructional experience. Manufacturing experience includes precision surface grinding, tool and die design and detailing and designing automated processes. Instructional experience includes precision surface grinding apprenticeship training at Oberg Manufacturing, key personnel and staff development training and in teaching print reading, CAD and mathematics. James Pitkavish, Instructor Responsible for training students in machining fundamentals and manual machine tool operations for milling, drilling and turning and CNC machine tool operation for turning and milling. Mr. Pitkavish has 26 years experience working and instructing as a machinist. He was a machinist at Penn United Technologies, Westinghouse EMD, and the United States Air Force. He was a new recruit trainer and advanced machinist instructor while serving in the Air Force. William Gernert, Part-time Consulting Engineer Responsible for outreach efforts with manufacturers, assisting in student placement, initiating and coordinating support from university engineering faculty and graduate students, conducting market research and assisting in planning. Mr. Gernert has a Bachelors Degree in Engineering and an MBA. He has over 30 years experience as an engineer and administrator for Westinghouse Electric and close to 10 as the Director of Technology in a state funded technology based economic development organization where he became familiar with the operation and management of approximately 1000 Western PA manufacturers.