Contact Info

Dr. Nathan W.  Hartman is the Dauch Family Professor of Advanced Manufacturing in the School of Engineering Technology at Purdue University, and Director of the Purdue University Digital Enterprise Center. Dr. Hartman is also Director of the Indiana Next-generation Manufacturing Competitiveness Center (IN-MaC), and a Faculty Fellow in the Purdue Policy Research Institute. In 2011, Professor Hartman was designated a University Faculty Scholar, and in early 2013, he was on the author team for what eventually became the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (now MxD, and part of the Manufacturing USA program).

Professor Hartman’s research areas focus on the product lifecycle management and the digital transformation of manufacturing; process and methodology for creating model-based definitions to support the product lifecycle; data standards and interoperability for both machine and human use; and workforce development strategies to support next-generation manufacturing. He has been awarded over $14,000,000 in research funding to support his work, primarily from industrial and manufacturing corporations and federal agencies. Professor Hartman’s industry research partners include Rolls Royce, Cummins, Boeing, GM, Rockwell Collins, Textron, Gulfstream, Procter & Gamble, GM, Honda, and others. He has also done funded research work through NSF, DoD, DoE, DMDII, and NIST programs. Professor Hartman has served in numerous capacities within the data interoperability and standards communities, including as Convener of the ISO TC10 WG16 committee and as a member of the steering committee for the ASME Model-based Enterprise standards development activity.

Professor Hartman teaches courses in 3D modeling, 3D data interoperability and standards, and product lifecycle management (PLM). Professor Hartman also leads a team in the development and delivery of online PLM, MBD, and TDP professional education certificate programs for Purdue’s various industry partners. Professor Hartman holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Purdue University and a Doctorate from North Carolina State University in 2003. Dr. Hartman spent over eight years working in industry for Fairfield Manufacturing Company, Caterpillar, and Rand Worldwide. During his time at Fairfield Manufacturing, he worked in various machining groups and in tool design. Upon joining Caterpillar, Professor Hartman worked in the 3600 Engine Series engineering group, where he designed components for the engine and served in the transition group that implemented 3D solid modeling technology and trained other users. At Rand Worldwide, he was responsible for the development, delivery, and assessment of training curricula for the use of 3D CAD and PDM tools for over 3000 people.