MMRL-XMO Industrial Seminar Brings Industry, Government, and Academia Together to Advance Manufacturing Innovation - Manufacturing and Materials Research Laboratories (MMRL) - Purdue University

Held at MMRL’s facilities in Purdue University’s Discovery Park District, the two-day seminar served as a key forum for collaboration under Purdue’s eXcellence in Manufacturing and Operations (XMO) initiative. The event was opened by Dr. Ajay “AJ” Malshe, Ball Brothers Executive Director of MMRL, who welcomed participants and highlighted Purdue’s vision for accelerating manufacturing innovation through strategic partnerships.

The seminar featured four plenary sessions from nationally recognized leaders in manufacturing and technology. Dr. Christopher Hoppel, Chief of the Biology, Materials and Manufacturing Sciences Division at DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory, discussed opportunities and challenges in advanced manufacturing for defense applications. Fred Carter, Head of Research & Development – AMIC R&D, DMG MORI Advanced Manufacturing, presented emerging innovations shaping the manufacturing landscape. On the second day, Andy Kwas, Executive NG Fellow, Northrop Grumman Space Systems, shared perspectives on the future direction of industrial manufacturing, while Jennifer Tucker, Vice President of Engineering at Honeywell Aerospace, highlighted advancements in point-of-use additive manufacturing.

Interactive panel discussions explored critical topics, including convergent manufacturing and artificial intelligence, Indiana’s manufacturing ecosystem and supply chain resiliency, and the intersection of manufacturing, workforce development, and industrial education. Distinguished panelists represented organizations including BWXT, Connexus Indiana, DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory, GE Aerospace, IACMI, JEOL, Progressive Surface, Renishaw, The Dauch Center at Purdue, and Thomas & Skinner.

A collaborative roadmapping session engaged participants in identifying future opportunities for convergent manufacturing technologies and strengthening partnerships across sectors. In addition to the technical discussions, attendees had the opportunity to explore ongoing research activities at Purdue through poster presentations showcasing cutting-edge projects from MMRL researchers, faculty, and students. The poster sessions provided a platform for direct engagement between industry representatives and researchers, fostering discussions on emerging technologies, potential collaborations, and pathways for technology translation.

Participants also toured MMRL’s state-of-the-art research facilities, gaining firsthand insight into Purdue’s advanced manufacturing and materials research capabilities. The facility tours highlighted ongoing projects in areas such as advanced manufacturing processes, materials characterization, digital manufacturing, automation, and artificial intelligence-enabled manufacturing systems. These interactions allowed visitors to better understand the breadth of research underway at MMRL and across Purdue University, while identifying opportunities for future industry-academic partnerships.

The seminar concluded with a presentation of roadmapping outcomes and discussions focused on translating ideas into future collaborative research, technology development, and educational initiatives.