Carr 7.3

Name: Dr. Bruce P Minaker
Qualifications:
- PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Queen's University at Kingston (2001)
- Professional Engineer (PEng)
Position: Associate Professor and Head of MAME department
Career Summary:
- Faculty member since 2000
- Head since 2021
- Acting Head in 2018 and 2019
Research Interests: Vehicle Dynamics and Simulation
Teaching Experience:
- Courses taught include:
- Dynamics
- Vehicle Dynamics
- Advanced Dynamics
- Controls
- Machine Design
- Vibrations
- Numerical Methods
- Stress Analysis
Personal Context: Father of three sons, all of whom are alumni of the Engineering program.

Undergraduate Programs:
- Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) programs offered:
- Mechanical Engineering
  - Specializations: Automotive, Aerospace, Materials, Environmental
  - Enrollment: Approximately 120 students
- Industrial Engineering
  - Optional Business Minor
  - Enrollment: Approximately 20 students
- Mechatronic Systems Engineering (New program, joint with ECE)
  - Enrollment: Estimated 30 students
Graduate Programs:
- Master of Engineering (MEng)
- Master of Applied Science (MASc)
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Core Content:
- Covers traditional topics such as:
- Solids
- Fluids
- Dynamics
- Thermodynamics
- Heat Transfer
- Controls
- Measurements
- Machine Design
Broader Field:
- More extensive field of study compared to Civil or Electrical Engineering
Specialization Options:
- Five-course specialization tracks available.
- For example, in the Automotive Option:
  - Core Courses: Auto Fundamentals, Vehicle Thermal Management, Vehicle Dynamics
  - Technical Electives: Examples include Sustainable Propulsion Technologies, Automotive Materials, Electric Machines, Batteries.

Nature of Industrial Engineering:
- Not limited to just Manufacturing Engineering or simplified Mechanical Engineering
- Scope includes:
- Product and Process Engineering
- Supply Chain Management and Logistics
- Operations Research
- Ergonomics
- Manufacturing Operations
Areas of Focus:
- Applications in various fields such as:
- Greenhouse and Agriculture
- Healthcare (Hospitals)
- Transportation
Future Career Trends:
- Incorporation of AI in industrial processes
- Focus on Optimization, including cost, profit, waste reduction, and delivery efficiency
Example Scenario:
- A business selling compressed gas to approximately 1000 customers must strategize deliveries to optimize profit while balancing customer needs and delivery costs.
- The challenge is to plan these deliveries efficiently to avoid running out of gas or incurring high expenses from surplus gas.

Program Description:
- A multidisciplinary program combining mechanical and electrical engineering principles
Key Characteristics:
- A beneficial program providing insights at the intersection of mechanical systems and electronic control mechanisms
- Curriculum Structure:
- Consolidation of traditional deep courses (Fluids, Thermodynamics, Dynamics, Solids) into one broad course for each subject, albeit with less depth
- Elective Paths:
- Two elective focus areas:
  - Autonomous Vehicles
  - Advanced Manufacturing (including Robotics)
- Emphasis on Modern Techniques:
- Introduction of Reinforcement Learning for applications in control systems.

Goals:
- Enhance the student experience
- Introduction of innovative course delivery and teaching methods
Curriculum Changes:
- Shift focus in Mechanical Engineering (ME) towards Engineering Design with an emphasis on Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and computing versus traditional Engineering Science courses
- Introduction of new Design courses in both second and third years
- Launch of a new optional Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) course (in conjunction with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) options)
Laboratory Improvements:
- Upgrade of Measurements laboratory equipment
Course Load Modifications:
- Reduction of total course load by eliminating two unrestricted electives overall
- Removal of one technical elective from options