Smart Manufacturing

Boeing 737 Max jets. The Federal Aviation Administration says a recently discovered software glitch does not present a safety issue. A software problem in some Boeing Co. 737 Max flight management systems does not impact the jets’ safety, the Federal Aviation Administration announced. That means it is unlikely to hold up the FAA’s certification of the 737 Max 10, its largest narrow-body jet. Other versions of the aircraft have already been certified.

The Mercedes-Benz C Class. The automaker’s U.S. division reports third quarter sales increased 4% from year-ago levels. Mercedes-Benz USA sold 76,200 vehicles in the third quarter, representing a 4% increase vs. year-ago levels. Adding in the 9,600 vans the automaker delivered and retail sales for the quarter were up 3% at 85,800 units. Officials said strong demand for Mercedes-Benz SUVs and high-end vehicles was responsible for much of the growth.

Electric vehicles, including hybrids, now represent over 50% of the global new-car market, according to recent reports. Fill ’er up… with electricity. For the first time in a century, sales of new, traditional gasoline-powered vehicles have dropped below 50% of the market, according to data cited by Nikkei Asia. What’s taking their place? Hybrids, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). The last time non-gas cars had similar market share was in the 1920s.

Prerana Panchumarti has built her early career around tackling unfamiliar challenges, applying technical expertise and curiosity to solve complex manufacturing problems in the aerospace industry. A finished airplane part can look deceptively simple. Behind it sits a chain of decisions that ultimately determine how that component performs in service. Understanding those connections is what drew Prerana Panchumarti to materials science and manufacturing.

As an electronics and communication engineering student, Tanishka Gadewar has already contributed to two patent award teams. If her past is prologue, the sky’s the limit for Tanishka Gadewar’s future. The 21-year-old already has taken part in two medical-related patent teams, developed an end-to-end plant classification system using computer-vision models across 15 disease classes and she is working on AI-powered, augmented reality (AR) transition glasses.

Matt Perham is a senior manufacturing engineer for the drive inverter team at Tesla’s Austin, Texas, plant. (Provided by Matt Perham) Don’t be afraid to take on demanding projects, new jobs or even life-changing events that are a little scary at first. This philosophy has served Matt Perham well during the initial stages of his career and life.

Shreeram Raghupathy is helping manufacturers harness the power of data, IoT and advanced analytics to create more efficient, connected operations. Sometimes, the numbers just don’t add up. That’s where Shreeram Raghupathy steps in. It’s a challenge at the center of his work as an advanced systems engineer at Kennametal Inc., where he uses real-time data and analytics to continuously improve operational system efficiencies, having an immediate business impact.

Shashwat Singh, a design engineering manager at wide-bandgap semiconductor manufacturer Wolfspeed, has more than 20 national and international patents. Receiving just one patent is rare. A U.S government study says that on average, only 235 patents are issued per 1 million people.

During her senior year at Lafayette College, Kusum Subedi developed a 3D-printing methodology for shape memory polymer composites using Nichrome wire for her thesis. Cur Non? The Latin expression for “Why Not?” is not only Lafayette College’s motto, it’s also a question that motivates Kusum Subedi, who graduated this year from the Easton, Pa.-based school with a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering.

Atilla Saadat is an engineer at Varda Space Industries Inc. Atilla Saadat likes to say that he helps spacecraft get where they need to go. But, truthfully, he does much more. At Varda Space Industries Inc. in El Segundo, Calif., Atilla is a guidance, navigation and control (GNC) engineer for spacecraft, launched aboard SpaceX rockets, that manufactures pharmaceuticals in orbit— microgravity can change how medications crystallize—and returns them safely to Earth.