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Dr. Vernon M. FernandezAssociate Professor
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Biography
Education
Career History
Current Research Interest
Selected Research Papers
Courses Taught Recently
Biography
Dr. Vernon Fernandez is an associate professor of Mechanical Engineering and Director of the Industrial Engineering program. He joined Lawrence Technological University in the fall of 1988. He earned his B.E. in Mechanical Engineering from Bombay University, India, and his M.A.S.C. from the University of Windsor, Canada. He holds a Ph. D. in Systems Engineering (Mechanical) from Oakland University, Michigan where he conducted research in Industrial Application of Lasers.
Dr Fernandez worked in the U.S. and abroad as a manufacturing engineer. After graduating in engineering, Dr. Fernandez worked for Godrej and Boyce Pvt. Ltd. India, as an engineering supervisor. He has worked in manufacturing of heavy industrial equipment, such as pressure vessels and in light manufacturing of Industrial and consumer goods. In the U.S., Dr. Fernandez worked for the Chrysler for 13 years as a researcher within Advance Manufacturing Engineering. Projects undertaken include the study and development of current and future manufacturing technologies. Dr. Fernandez has worked extensively with manufacturing cost analysis and finance for the Chrysler group. Having foreseen the demand for energy and its ensuing increase in price, Dr. Fernandez has focused his work on developing and designing optimal processes that result in energy efficient operations that reduce cost. Initial studies performed on his research show an 80% reduction in energy usage when compared with conventional methods used in production plants. These benefits occur with increased quality.
Key industrial projects currently undertaken by Dr. Fernandez include:
Dr. Fernandez is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.
Education
| Bombay University, India |
Mechanical Engineering | BE | 1978 |
| University of Windsor, Canada |
Mechanical Engineering |
M.A.Sc. |
1986 |
| Oakland University, MI | Systems Engineering | Ph.D. | 1989 |
Career History
| Sept., 1992 to present | Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, MI |
| Spring, 2009 to present |
Director, Bachelor of Science in Industrial Operations |
| Engineering, Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, MI | |
| June 1996 to Aug 2008 |
Summer Intern Professor, Chrysler Corporation, Auburn Hills, MI |
| Sept., 1988 to Aug.92 | Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, MI |
| June, 1978 to 1982 | Engineering Supervisor, Godrej and Boyce Manufacturing Co., Bombay, India. |
| Spring, 2009 to Present |
Director, Bachelor of Science in Industrial Operations |
| Engineering, Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, MI |
Career Research Interest
Optimization of industrial processes
Optimization of Energy usage
Optimization of finance
Design of Mechatronic systems
Selected Research Papers
Venugopal, D., Das, M., Fernandez, V., “Study and implementation of a force stepper and a part fit-up solver algorithm for a servo controlled MFDC spot welder,” IEEE International Conference on Electro/Information Technology, Windsor, Canada, June 2009. Digital Object Identifier: 10.1109/EIT.2009.5189628
Publication Year: 2009 , Page(s): 286 - 291
Das, M., Strausbaugh, J. W., Fernandez, V., Grzadzinski, G., “Method for Estimating Nugget Diameter and Weld Parameters.” Patent number US 7,244,905, July 17, 2007. Assignee, Chrysler Corporation, Auburn Hills, MI
Fernandez, V., Strausbaug, J. W., Grzadzinski, G., Cao, F., “Quick Change Device for Mounting an Actuator to a Resistance Welding Gun.” Patent number US 7,019,250 B2, March 28, 2006.
Courses Taught Recently
Undergraduate
EGE 1102 Engineering Computer Applications Laboratory
EME 3303 Engineering Numerical Methods
EME 3043 Dynamics
EME 4153 Robotics Applications
IOE 3354 Introduction to Operations Research
IOE 3453 Statistical Methods for Process Improvement
Graduate
EME 6213 Fundamentals of Acoustics
