Sustainable Manufacturing: Origins and Future Directions

Please join the College of Engineering and Computer Science for our Hulings Distinguished Lecture Series guest speaker, John W. Sutherland, Ph.D., who will discuss “Sustainable Manufacturing: Origins and Future Directions.”

Abstract
As a society we face many environmental challenges, e.g., solid, liquid, and airborne waste streams; shortages of water, selected materials, and energy resources; and climate change. Manufacturing produces and supplies the goods and services needed by society and is an engine of prosperity. However, like other aspects of society, fundamental changes are needed to the manufacturing ecosystem to put us on a course to being environmentally sustainable. The origins of environmentally responsible manufacturing (often referred to as sustainable manufacturing) will be discussed. In particular, work related to reducing cutting fluids in machining operations and critical material-related challenges in support of clean energy technologies will be reviewed. Promising directions for future research and development will also be provided such as circular economy, greener processes and products, smart/sustainable manufacturing, green manufacturing planning, and social sustainability indicators for manufacturing.

About the Speaker
John W. Sutherland has made pioneering research and education contributions to establish and advance the field of environmentally responsible design and manufacturing. He has served as an investigator on numerous externally funded projects, mentored more than 100 students to the completion of their graduate degrees (including 36 Ph.D. students), and published nearly 500 papers in various journals and conference proceedings. His recognitions include the SME Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award (1992), Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (1996), SAE Ralph R. Teetor Educational Award (1999), SME Education Award (2009), SAE International John Connor Environmental Award (2010), ASME William T. Ennor Manufacturing Technology Award (2013), SME Gold Medal (2018), AEESP Frederick George Pohland Medal (2022), and National Academy of Engineering member (2023). He is a Fellow of SME, ASME, CIRP, and AAAS. He earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Sutherland is the Fehsenfeld Family Head of Environmental and Ecological Engineering (EEE) at Purdue University. EEE offers Bachelors, Masters, and Doctoral degrees and is one of the largest environmental engineering programs in the U.S. EEE is unique in that it embraces industrial sustainability in addition to classic environmental engineering. For more about EEE see: https://engineering.purdue.edu/EEE