Dr. Mark French Recognized for His Impact on Indiana Businesses
With Lifetime Achievement Award

 

CARMEL, Ind. – Dr. Richard Mark French, professor of mechanical engineering technology at Purdue Polytechnic’s School of Engineering Technology, was recently presented with a lifetime achievement award from Purdue Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) for his dedication and impact on Indiana businesses. Dr. French has directly engaged the industry for almost 10 years through Purdue MEP and the Purdue Technical Assistance Program (TAP).

Throughout his involvement with Purdue’s TAP40 program, which provides Indiana businesses up to 40 hours of consultive services from Purdue faculty, Dr. French has been the project manager for over 115 different industry projects.

“Dr. French has an impressive ability to connect with clients, understand their problems, and provide solutions, all while making the process enjoyable for all involved. His team of graduate students brings a depth of technical resources and analytical mindsets that widens the door of who we can serve and how,” states John Drach, Manager of the TAP40 program.

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Image caption: Dr. Mark French is presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by Ranae Stewart, Senior Executive Director of Purdue MEP.

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Dr. French's areas of specialty at Purdue are industrial support, experimental mechanics, and stringed instrument design. He has written four books and around a hundred technical articles and has been awarded three patents. He has an impressive list of honors and awards including being honored in the inaugural cohort of 150th Anniversary Professors at Purdue University, which acknowledges University faculty who have shown the highest levels of achievement in Purdue’s mission of education. He is also well known through the Purdue student community for his Guitar Lab and has a large following on his YouTube channel, @PurdueMET, where he helps engineering students solve problems through short, instructional videos.

“Through the guidance of Dr. French, Indiana companies gain access to an entire lab of results-focused faculty and graduate students in the engineering sector that provide hands-on solutions to organizations’ most intriguing problems whether it be a material issue, product validation complication, or more,” states Ranae Stewart, Senior Executive Director of Purdue MEP. “We know our clients are in the best hands and will see immediate, measurable results through Dr. French and his team. It is a well-deserved recognition, and we look forward to even more projects with him.”

The Purdue TAP40 program engages up to 40 hours a year of assistance to businesses throughout the state of Indiana. This assistance is to address a critical need with a discrete solution which usually takes the form of guidance, analysis, or validation. To find out more about the TAP40 program through Purdue University, visit https://mep.purdue.edu/services/faculty-projects/  

 

About Purdue Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)

Purdue MEP, part of the MEP National Network, provides high-value, affordable, personalized consulting and training services that enable Indiana manufacturers to work smarter, compete, and prosper. We develop more effective business leaders, drive product and process innovation, promote company-wide operational excellence, and foster creative strategies for business growth, workforce development, economic competitiveness, and greater profitability. To learn more, visit www.mep.purdue.edu

Writer: Julie Warner, 765-496-1200, jawarner@purdue.edu