Hamann named the executive director of the Connected Systems Institute at UWM

MILWAUKEE _ Joe Hamann, an engineering and technology leader with diverse experience across the value chain, has been named executive director of the Connected Systems Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Joe Hamann, Executive Director, CSI

In this role, Hamann will partner with Wisconsin industries with the goal of creating the workforce of the future in advanced manufacturing.

“I’m fascinated with everything that is industry 4.0,” Hamann said. “And I’m anxious to have the opportunity to transfer innovation in advanced manufacturing to industry. When I think about my career, the one common theme – and my biggest passion – is making people stronger.”

 Launched in 2017, the Connected Systems Institute brings together UWM faculty and student researchers and industry members to develop advanced manufacturing processes using the testbed production line at an 11,000-square-feet facility on the UWM campus.

Connected systems refers to the use of artificial intelligence, streaming data on the Industrial Internet of Things, and automated robotics to improve factory efficiencies and inform strategic decision making.

Support for the executive director position was provided by the institute’s founding partner, Rockwell Automation.

“We are thrilled to partner with UWM to bring Dr. Hamann to the institute,” said Kyle Crum, Rockwell Automation’s Director of Advanced Technology. “His skills, experience and passion will be an asset for the entire industry. We’re looking forward to continued collaboration.”

Hamann, with educational background in materials engineering, comes to the position with 17 years of experience, where he held roles of increasing responsibility across R&D and engineering, most recently serving as senior director of engineering for the Industrial Components Division. While at Regal Rexnord, Hamann initiated the introduction of additive manufacturing and developed the company’s early-career engineering leadership development program.

More recently his experience evolved into global engineering team leadership, with responsibilities spanning innovation, sustaining engineering and continuous process improvement. A Milwaukee native, Hamann earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in materials engineering at UW-Madison and a master’s in business administration at UWM.

Under his leadership, Hamann said, the institute will work with industry to help them identify problems that advanced manufacturing can solve and provide training to prepare their workforce for the rapid acceleration of advanced manufacturing technology.

“Many of these companies are poised to recognize the existing improvement opportunities that could be addressed with the tools from CSI,” he said, “These are tools that will have the greatest effect on improvement and efficiency across the operation.”

Besides Rockwell Automation, there are five other CSI industry members – Fortinet, UScellular, Brady Corp., Heartland Business Systems and Revere Electric. Another 11 companies are collaborators on various projects at the institute.

For more information, contact Casey O’Brien, caseyo@uwm.edu, 414-251-8767.