Dirk Schaefer
Assistant Professor
Education
- Ph.D., University of Stuttgart, Germany, 2003
- M.S., University of Duisburg, Germany, 1996
- B.S., University of Duisburg, Germany, 1994
Research Areas and Descriptors
Background
Prior to joining Georgia Tech in Fall 2006, he was a Lecturer in the School of Engineering at Durham University, UK, and a Senior Research Associate at the University of Stuttgart, Germany. Dr. Schaefer also held part-time positions as an Assistant Professor at the University of Applied Sciences in Aalen and as a Lecturer at two private IT Academies in Esslingen and Dresden. In addition, he was the Managing Director of an IT consulting firm which he founded in 1999. Dr. Schaefer started his career as an apprentice toolmaker with one of Germany's leading metal forming companies, where he specialized in CNC machining and the manufacture of compound tool sets for knuckle joint presses. Prior to working in academia, Dr. Schaefer gained experience as a software engineer in the area of CAD system development.
Research
Dr. Schaefer has experience in research and development on the boundaries between engineering and information technology principles. Long-standing work has addressed product modeling, variant design technology, product life-cycle management, interdisciplinary ECAD-to-MCAD integration, design-with-manufacture integration, standardized product data exchange, and knowledge management. His current research focus is on virtual engineering, digital enterprise technology and systems integration.
Dr. Schaefer's current research focus is on information engineering for complex engineered systems, virtual engineering and digital enterprise technology: A digital enterprise may be defined as the integration of a company's product, their processes, and recourses necessary to develop/manufacture the product into a digital model. Key challenges are:
- All information relevant to production engineering (from strategy planning to production start-up) has to be provided in terms of one overall digital model.
- Provision of fully integrated IT systems (including legacy systems) for developing the overall digital enterprise model.
- Use of integrated simulation systems for developing integrated virtual prototypes and virtual reality simulations of various processes.
- Integration and cross linking of all interfaces (logistics, factory layout, etc.) and disciplines (i.e., design, manufacture, etc.) concerned by utilizing computerized digital process support (i.e., work flow management, real time scheduling, etc.).
- Development of virtual engineering environments (i.e., portals for computer supported cooperative work (CSCW), application sharing, distributed processes, etc.).
In order to realize virtual engineering as outlined, novel technology for product design and development within distributed information-driven engineering environments as well as a framework that integrates systems and methods for the digital modeling of the global product development and realization process are required.
Distinctions
- European Federation of National Engineering Associations (Brussels) European Engineer Professional Registration
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (United Kingdom)
- Chartered Engineer, United Kingdom, 2006
- Chartered IT-Professional, United Kingdom, 2006
- Registered Practitioner of The Higher Education Academy, United Kingdom, 2006
Representative Publications
- D. Schaefer, J. H. Panchal, S. K. Choi, and F. Mistree. 2008. Strategic Design of Engineering Education for the Flat World. International Journal of Engineering Education 24(2), 274-282.
- J. H. Panchal and D. Schaefer. 2007. Towards Achieving Agility in Web-Based Virtual Enterprises: A Decision-centric Approach. International Journal of Internet Manufacturing and Services 1(1), 51-74.
- D. Schaefer and P. Baguley. 2007. ECAD Functionality Suitable for Web-Based Optimized Automated Product Variant Generation. International Journal of Internet Manufacturing and Services 1(1), 4-18.
- D. Schaefer. 2006. A Generic Approach to Variant Design in Electrical Engineering CAD. atp International - Automation Technology in Practice 4(2), 46-50.
- K. Wolf, D. Roller, and D. Schaefer. 2000. An Approach to Computer Aided Quality Control based on 3D Coordinate Metrology. Journal of Materials Processing Technology 107 (1-3), Elsevier Science, 96-110.
|
