Plastics Product Design Specialty

Sections of the Kettering University Web Site

Origin of Plastics Product Design at Kettering University

In the early 1960’s when Kettering University was known as GMI, the Process Engineering Department purchased its first plastic processing machinery. At that time Don Paulson and William Frizelle were our plastics faculty. Don developed a cavity-pressure sensor and went on to found Control Processes, which still serves the industry. Bill chose an academic career and is now a distinguished faculty member at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY. Within this same time period, Dr. G. Reginald Bell developed a course in Polymer Science, which he continues to teach here at Kettering. Dr. Bell is a member of the Chemistry Department and a recipient of multiple distinguished teaching awards.

Evolution & Growth

When the Mechanical Engineering Department was formally constituted in the late 1970’s, the exiting Polymer Processing course and the Polymer Science course were integrated into a manufacturing concentration, which also included courses in more traditional manufacturing. About that time Prof. Dave Harry, Emeritus, created a design/properties course offering, which further broadened our program.
The strength and growth of the plastics industry allowed the M.E. Department to create a stand-alone concentration in Plastics.

About 30 Mechanical Engineering students elect and complete this concentration each year. In addition to the courses noted above, there are two other courses that include “Introduction to Finite Elements” and a concentration elective. The program, like all specialties, makes up 10% of the Mechanical Engineering program. It is not a degree in Plastics Engineering. It is, however, a unique course of study and a guaranteed entry into a dynamic and growing industry.

What courses will I take?

Regardless of the chosen concentration, every student pursuing an M.E. degree at Kettering takes 39 courses and a thesis. Four of the 39 courses define a specialty.

IME-507 Polymer Processing
MECH-580 Properties of Polymers
MECH-584 Plastics Product Design
Two Specialty Related M.E. Electives approved by a Plastics Design faculty advisor

The Faculty of the Plastics Product Design Specialty

Dr. Yaomin Dong is an assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering in the area of CAE and simulation. After many years in industry, he recently joined Kettering and teaches CAE courses. He is an expert in modeling and non-linear analysis of metal, polymeric and composite components, including injection-molded parts. He utilizes Ideas and UG software packages, as well as other software.

Dr. Jacqueline El-Sayed is the lead faculty. She works with non-linear applications in finite element analysis and manufacturing optimization. She teaches Mechanical Properties of Polymers, in addition to Finite Element Analysis, Mechanics I &II, and Machine Design. Her professional work includes leadership of several teams and committees on the university and state level, as well as, membership in several multi-disciplinary faculty team research projects consisting of over $500K total funding. She is currently the Director of the Center of Excellence in Teaching and Learning, and the faculty advisor for the Kettering student section of the Society of Plastics Engineers. She is an alumnus of Kettering and completed her senior thesis in the Manufacturing and Materials R&D Department at GM Truck Group in Pontiac, her co op sponsor.

Dr. Laura Sullivan is an expert in polymer engineering and biomaterials. She has taught Mechanics, Engineering Materials, Polymer Processing, Polymer Properties, and Biomaterials. She has also provided short course in Thermoplastic Material Selection, Injection Molding and Fracture Mechanics through the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. In addition to this she has secured over $250K in grant funding from NSF for polymers work and is currently involved in research into the factors that contribute most to women leaving the engineering profession.

Dr. Maciej Zgorzelski is a professor of Mechanical Engineering and an expert in CAE. He teaches the Plastics Product Design Capstone and most of the Kettering University CAE courses. He utilizes Ideas and UG software packages, as well as Mold Flow software. His background also includes extensive work in robotics, lean manufacturing and continuing education courses.