Multiscale Metal Manufacturing Processes Lab
Principal Investigator: Dr. Frank Pfefferkorn

Mfg. Education

Here you will find information on manufacturing courses, certificates, and degrees offered in the College of Engineering at UW-Madison.

A manufacturing focus can be applied to any Mechanical Engineering graduate program (ME MS Accelerated, ME MS Research, ME PHD, ME Doctoral Minor).

Courses Taught in the Fall Term

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ME 419 – Fundamentals of Injection Molding

  • Prof. Lih-Sheng ‘Tom’ Turng
  • All major aspects of injection molding with emphases on design, processing, process physics, computer-aided engineering (CAE), troubleshooting, and advanced molding processes. Field trip, video presentation, case studies, term project with oral presentation, and hands-on sessions using commercial CAE simulation software.

ME 429 – Metal Cutting

  • Prof. Sangkee Min
  • Learn metal cutting fundamentals and operate state-of-the-art machine tools: 5-axis CNC Mill-Turn Machine and 5-axis Ultra-Precision CNC Mill.
  • There will factory tours: usually, one machine tool manufacturer and one cutting tool manufacturer.

ME 446 – Introduction to Feedback Control - 50% Graduate Coursework Attribute

  • Prof. Mike Zinn
  • Overview of linear feedback control analysis and design techniques for mechanical systems.
  • Prof. Zinn is an applied controls expert with an interest in applying these concepts to manufacturing processes.

ME 508 – Composite Materials - 50% Graduate Coursework Attribute

  • Prof. Pavana Prabhakar
  • Physical properties and mechanical behavior of polymer, metal, ceramic, cementitious, cellulosic and biological composite systems; micro- and macro-mechanics; lamination and strength analyses; static and transient loading; fabrication; recycling; design; analytical-experimental correlation; applications.
  • Prof. Prabhakar is taking over this course and teaching it for the first time in Fall 2025.
  • Prof. Prabhakar is a polymer composites expert and has a lot of experience in manufacturing these materials in her lab. She will emphasize fabrication of composites more heavily than is alluded to in the course description.

ME 601 (ME 431) – Advanced Metal Casting (will be renamed “Metal Casting”) - 50% Graduate Coursework Attribute

  • Prof. Mike DeCicco
  • This course is a hands-on course that uses real world examples of modeling of solidification and molten metal fluid flow, coupled with melt and molding practice using additive methods for patterns and molds.
  • The class makes extensive use of the metal foundry in the Art Lofts at UW-Madison.

ME 601 – Laser-based Manufacturing - 50% Graduate Coursework Attribute

  • Prof. Frank Pfefferkorn and Mr. Kevin Klingbeil
  • This is the first time this course is being offered.
  • This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles, practices, and applications of laser-based manufacturing, with a focus on the fabrication of discrete metal parts. Students will explore the fundamentals of laser operation, beam delivery optics, and the governing equations of electromagnetic radiation and its interaction with matter. The course blends theoretical concepts with practical knowledge drawn from over 50 years of combined industry and research experience of the instructors.

ME 601 – Mechanical Dissection - 50% Graduate Coursework Attribute

  • This is a 1-credit course. All other courses in this list, and most courses taught at UW-Madison are 3-credit courses.
  • Prof. Michael DeCicco
  • The course is exactly what the title says: a guided hands-on instruction where learning comes primarily from taking things apart and learning why parts are designed the way they are and assembled in certain ways.

ME 964 – Metal Additive Manufacturing - 50% Graduate Coursework Attribute

  • Prof. Lianyi Chen
  • Prof. Chen is a world-renowned expert in elucidating the fundamental process physics of laser and electron beam powder bed fusion (i.e., metal additive manufacturing using powder feedstock) and identifying solutions to common challenges.
  • This course is a deep dive into the laser-material interactions and resulting microstructures and properties of metal additive manufacturing.

MS&E 401 – Alloy Design

  • Prof. Hyunseok Oh
  • Newer assistant professor who specializes in rapid alloy development. 
  • Metallurgy is core knowledge that even ME students interested in metal manufacturing need to have some exposure to.

MS&E 433 – Principles of Corrosion

  • Prof. Kumar Sridharan
  • Thermodynamics and kinetics of metallic corrosion. The common forms of corrosion and corrosion susceptibility tests. Electrochemical measurement of corrosion rates. Corrosion prevention, economic considerations. High temperature oxidation and sulphidation. Corrosion case histories. 

MS&E 463 – Materials for Elevated Temperature Service

  • Prof. John Perepezko
  • The design, properties, processing and selection of high temperature materials for structural applications. The fundamentals of diffusion, phase transformations, dislocation motion and oxidation governing the high temperature mechanical properties and structural performance of metallic and ceramic materials.

Courses Taught in the Spring Term

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MS&E 401 – Metal Additive Manufacturing 

  • ME 401 and ME 964 cover different aspects of metal additive manufacturing, with only a slight overlap.

ART 414 - Art Foundry

  • Prof. Emily Belknap
  • Learn sand casting and plaster investment casting of aluminum and bronze with a focus on individual semester projects.

ME 437 - Advanced Material Selection

ME 449 – Redesign and Prototype Fabrication [50% Graduate Coursework Attribute]

ISyE 512 - Inspection, Quality Control and Reliability [50% Graduate Coursework Attribute]

  • Prof. Hantang Qin

ME 514 - Polymer Additive Manufacturing [50% Graduate Coursework Attribute]

ME 601 - Bicycle Frame Design and Manufacturing [50% Graduate Coursework Attribute]

ME 601 - Intro to Engineering Design [50% Graduate Coursework Attribute]

  • Prof. Kate Fu

ME 601 - Advanced Automation Integration [50% Graduate Coursework Attribute]

  • Prof. Christopher Westphal (adjunct)

ME 964 (729) – Advanced Machining [50% Graduate Coursework Attribute]

Notes on Courses:

  5. ME 529 is designed and only offered to distance learning students in our M.Eng. Manufacturing Systems Engineering program, hence you cannot enroll in this course.
  7. More details can be found in the UW-Madison Course Guide.
  8. Current students (after logging in with NetID) can find many of the syllabi for technical electives and graduate courses taught by the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
  9. Current students (after logging in with NetID) can find a tentative course plan for offering technical electives and graduate courses taught by the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Additional Options

Manufacturing Engineering, Certificate [On-Campus]

This certificate allows undergraduate students to emphasize manufacturing systems or manufacturing processes—or, they can choose to spread courses evenly across both. Students will gain an understanding of these two areas of manufacturing.

engineering manufacturing certificate

Master of Science in Manufacturing Systems Engineering [Online]

Build technical depth in manufacturing systems engineering through a flexible online program. Learn to lead smart, efficient operations through applied learning in process optimization, quality, data-driven decision-making, and automation.

manufacturing systems masters