Homepage of Paul M. Swamidass
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

 

 

 
Academic Positions:

1. College of Business:

    Professor of Operations Management                                                                             
    Department of Supply Chain Management
    College of Business
    Auburn University
    Auburn, Alabama 36849, USA
 

2. College of Engineering (Mailing Address)

    Director
    Thomas Walter Center for Technology Management
    211 Ramsey Hall
    Auburn University
    Alabama 36849-5358, USA
    Office: (334) 844-4333
    Fax: (334) 844-1678
    swamidas@auburn.edu
    http://www.eng.auburn.edu/center/twc/swamidass/
 

Summary and Background:

  • Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, Osmania University, India.
  • MBA (marketing) Washington State University, Pullman, USA
  • Ph.D. in production/operations management, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.

Active Research Interests: Technology Commercialization, Technology Management, Product development in cross-functional teams, Entrepreneurship, Teamwork, Manufacturing strategy, Supply chain management, Advanced manufacturing technology.

Research: Over 80 publications in the form of peer-referenced papers, book chapters, conference proceedings, and articles in professional journals. Edited The Encyclopedia of Production and Operations Management (2000), the book Innovations in Competitive Manufacturing (hardcover 2001; paperback 2002), and the book Cross-Functional Management of Technology: Cases and Readings (1996). Conducted research sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the National Association of Manufacturers, USA, on manufacturing technology use. This body of research and publications have been quoted or cited in The Economist, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Asian Wall Street Journal, U.S. News and World Report, and others.

  1. List of selected publications
  2. List of presentations since 2001

List of books/monographs published

  1. Swamidass, P.M. Innovations in Competitive Manufacturing. New York, NY. AMACOM books,2002(Paperback),439 pages (editor)
  2. Swamidass, P.M. Innovations in Competitive Manufacturing. Boston: Kluwer Academic Publishing,2000(Hardback),439 pages (editor)
  3. Swamidass, P.M.(Editor). The Encyclopedia of Production and Manufacturing Technology Use in the United States. Boston: Kluwer Academic   Publishing, 2000 (978 page). Japanese language edition 2004; Translated by Asakura Publishing Co., Ltd. Japan.
  4. Aldridge, M.D. and P.M. Swamidass (editors). Cross-Functional Technology Management: Cases and Readings. Burr Ridge, IL. Richard D. Irwin, January 1996.
  5. Swamidass, P.M. Technology on the Factory Floor III: Benchmarking Manufacturing Technology Use in the US. Washington, D.C.: Manufacturing Institute, September 18, 1998

Teaching interests: Technology Commercialization, New product and business development, Technology and innovation strategy, Operations management, and Manufacturing Strategy.

On-going projects

Technology commercialization initiative: In this on-going effort at the Thomas Walter Center Dr. Swamidass directs a cross-functional team of graduate and undergraduate students engaged in commercializing Auburn University’s patented technologies from the College of Engineering. Investigations include technology evaluation, market research, identification of potential licensees and development partners, scaling-up technologies for commercial production, pilot plant development, estimation of cost of operations, cash flow analysis, business plan development, and contacts with the business community to market AU technologies. Over 50 technologies evaluated at the Center over the last 3+ years.

New startup: The commercialization initiative of the Center has resulted in the formation of Modular Carpet Recycling, Inc., a new startup business to exploit an Auburn University technology to recover nylon from used carpets. This business was incorporated in June 2007. The potential market for this business is estimated to exceed a $1 billion in less than 20 years. The business will sell skid-mounted modular carpet recycling plants that can be located near metropolitan area. The recycling plants will keep waste carpet from going to landfills and produce 99+% pure nylon; this green technology will reduce the need for crude oil which is the raw material for virgin nylon. About 5 billion pounds of waste carpets are sent to landfills each year.

Business-Engineering-Technology (BET) minor: Director of the BET program for selected students majoring in business and engineering. A total of eight different professors from the colleges of business and engineering teach custom designed courses in this minor, which was first offered in 2001. The theme of the program is "Launching New Products Through cross-functional Teamwork." This is a four-semester, 16 semester-hour minor that complements all majors in the colleges of business and engineering at Auburn University. Student teams learn to develop new products and business plans. Selected Auburn University student teams work with team members in the University of Plymouth, UK.
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