Dr. Baron’s manufacturing background includes systems involving machining, sheet metal fabrication, and assembly. His recent research has focused on developing new methods for the analysis and validation of sheet metal processes including tool and die making, tool tryout, and sheet metal assembly processes. He also developed functional build procedures that result in lower tooling costs and shorter development lead times, while improving quality—particularly with sheet metal assemblies.Dr. Baron has been researching new technologies in the auto industry and has studied at plants in Europe, Japan, and North America. His research focuses on body shop manufacturing systems, design and flexibility, and evaluates the manufacturing capability of evolving technologies. He completed investigations on the state-of-the-art of tailor welded blank technologies, weld-bond adhesives, low-volume manufacturing technologies, and analysis of car body sub-system performance and construction methods.