July 28, 2025
Boeing-Pennell Endowed Professor of Engineering Ramulu Mamidala — a professor in ME and an adjunct professor of materials science and engineering and of industrial and systems engineering — was honored with the North American Manufacturing Research Institution of SME (NAMRI) Founder's Lecture.
Boeing-Pennell Endowed Professor of Engineering Ramulu Mamidala gave the SME/NAMRI Founder's Lecture.
The lecture honors individuals who have made a significant and sustained contribution to the machining science of composite materials and manufacturing.
“I would like to thank the Ph.D. students who have worked in my lab over the years and pay tribute to the mentors, collaborators and the UW who gave me an opportunity to teach and do research for the past 43 years,” Mamidala says.
Mamidala’s presentation, “An overview of advances in machining science of aerospace materials,” focused on recent advances in machining composite and hybrid materials that reduce weight, emissions and costs. High-strength hybrid materials require machining for tolerance and surface finishing. Mamidala addressed the technical challenges of working with advanced materials and shared strategies to improve tool performance, precision and surface quality.
Engaged heavily in both teaching and research for the past 43 years at the UW, Mamidala has led two interdisciplinary graduate education programs. Mamidala’s research interests reflect the multidisciplinary nature of materials, mechanics and manufacturing engineering, and primarily focuses on aircraft materials and structures. His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, Boeing, PACCAR, Quest, Kyocera, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Puget Sound Naval Ship Yard and more.
NAMRI/SME brings together researchers from companies, government laboratories, academic institutions and industrial think tanks from around the world to advance the scientific foundation of discrete-parts manufacturing. The lecture took place at the NAMRI/SME North American Manufacturing Research Conference (NAMRC) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers International Manufacturing Science and Engineering Conference, recently held at Clemson University.