Dr. Kakuro Amasaka – Production Engineering – Best Academic Researcher Award

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Dr. Kakuro Amasaka - Production Engineering - Best Academic Researcher Award

Aoyama Gakuin University/Graduate school of Science and Engineering - Japan

Author Profile 

ORCID 

🎓 Early academic pursuits

Dr. Kakuro Amasaka began his academic journey with a bachelor of engineering degree from hachinohe national college of technology, japan, in 1968. later, his passion for precision and quality led him to earn a doctor of engineering degree from hiroshima university in 1997, specializing in precision mechanical and system engineering, statistics, and quality control. his early commitment to scientific rigor and systems thinking laid the foundation for his significant influence on production engineering and power electronics applications.

🏢 Professional endeavors

Dr. Amasaka's illustrious career started at toyota motor corporation in 1968. over nearly three decades, he held diverse roles such as engineer and manager across production engineering, quality assurance, overseas engineering, manufacturing, and total quality management (tqm) promotion divisions. from 1998 to 2000, he served as general manager of the tqm promotion division. in 2000, he transitioned to academia as a professor at aoyama gakuin university's college and graduate school of science and engineering in tokyo, and has been professor emeritus since 2016.

🔬 Contributions and research focus

Dr. Amasaka has contributed significantly to the advancement of modern manufacturing principles. he developed new paradigms such as science sqc (statistical quality control), science tqm, new jit (just-in-time), and the new manufacturing theory, all grounded in deep customer science principles. his research also bridges kansei engineering, numerical simulation, cae, product r&d, and Production Engineering global supply chain management. in his work, innovations in power electronics have been integrated into quality and production system modeling, enhancing precision and efficiency in both theory and practice.

🌍 Impact and influence

His impact extends globally through academic societies and leadership roles. he has been a key figure in organizations like the japanese society for quality control, production and operations management society (poms), and european operations management association (euroma). notably, he served as vice chairman and later president of the japanese operations management Production Engineering and strategy association. his influence in power electronics has informed control systems development and real-time simulation in advanced quality frameworks worldwide.

🏅 Academic citations and honors

Dr. Amasaka’s scholarly output includes numerous influential papers and technical innovations. he has received 72 patents related to production systems and quality control technologies. notable awards include the aichi invention encouragement prize (1991), multiple nikkei quality control literature prizes, statistical quality control prize (1976), and the higashi kuninomiya Production Engineering culture and peace prizes. additionally, he received the albert nelson marquis achievement award (2017) and the best researcher award (2022) from sciencefather, further solidifying his legacy.

🌱 Legacy and future contributions

Dr. Amasaka’s work has created a lasting framework for future engineers and researchers to follow. his integration of systems thinking, quality engineering, and customer-centric design continues to guide modern manufacturing disciplines. the principles he introduced, especially within science tqm and science sqc, remain essential in optimizing not only traditional production systems but also in emerging areas such as sustainable engineering and power electronics-enabled smart manufacturing. as a mentor, researcher, and innovator, he continues to shape the academic and industrial landscapes.

Notable Publications 

  • Title: Revolutionary Automobile Production Systems for Optimal Quality, Efficiency, and Cost
    Author: Kakuro Amasaka
    Journal/Publisher: Book published by IGI Global

  • Title: Examining a New Automobile Global Manufacturing System
    Author: Kakuro Amasaka
    Journal/Publisher: Book published by IGI Global

Dr. HEEJIN SHIM – Manufacturing – Best Researcher Award

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Dr. HEEJIN SHIM - Manufacturing - Best Researcher Award

Korea Institute of Fusion Energy - South Korea

Author Profile

SCOPUS

ORCID

🎓 Early academic pursuits

Hee Jin Shim began her academic journey in mechanical engineering at hanyang university, republic of korea, where she earned her m.s. degree (2003–2005) and ph.d. degree (2005–2010). her graduate research emphasized fatigue, fracture, and reliability, focusing on mechanical system durability. her doctoral thesis, “a study on the durability evaluation with strain-hardening characteristics for cold forged pulley,” showcased advanced understanding in continuum mechanics, vibration fatigue, mechanical testing, and ut inspection, laying a solid foundation for high-level engineering applications, including power electronics systems where structural integrity is paramount.

💼 Professional endeavors

Shim’s career reflects a consistent evolution in the field of nuclear engineering and tokamak technology. from july 2010 to april 2014, she served as a senior researcher at kepco e&c co., inc., contributing to the continued operation and safety of phwr and candu plants, including fatigue assessments and system design for the apr+. since may 2014, she has been a pivotal member of the korea institute of fusion energy (kfe), advancing from the Manufacturing blanket technology team to the diagnostics & codac technology team. her current role as principal researcher within the tokamak engineering department highlights her leadership in fusion device components and system integration.

🔬 Contributions and research focus

Shim’s core research focuses on mechanical integrity assessment, particularly in fusion energy and nuclear systems. she has contributed significantly to manufacturing assessments, non-destructive evaluations (nde), and ultrasonic testing (ut) procedures for high-precision components such as shield blocks and diagnostic shield modules (dsm). her work ensures the reliability and safety of fusion devices, involving complex cad modeling (catia/enovia) and Manufacturing qualification of pic components. shim's cross-disciplinary expertise bridges material science, mechanical testing, and power electronics, particularly in harsh environments where component reliability is essential.

🌐 Impact and influence

Shim’s influence is most evident in her contributions to international fusion collaborations, especially in the iter project. her leadership in the development, supervision, and qualification of blanket shield blocks and dsm prototypes has helped standardize best practices for manufacturing and inspection in fusion engineering. shim’s efforts in integrating structural design with Manufacturing advanced ut procedures and environmental fatigue assessments have enhanced operational safety in both nuclear power plants and fusion reactors—key sectors increasingly integrated with power electronics for system control and diagnostics.

📚 Academic cites

While her research is deeply embedded in practical engineering applications, shim’s academic contributions are equally notable. her work on strain-hardening characteristics, fatigue monitoring systems, and non-destructive evaluation procedures continues to be cited in both academic and industrial literature. her collaboration in long-term government and energy projects has also led to technical documentation used in Manufacturing regulatory and development frameworks for next-generation reactors and tokamak systems.

🌟 Legacy and future contributions

Shim’s legacy is built on combining mechanical engineering precision with nuclear fusion innovation. as fusion energy moves toward commercialization, her ongoing work in codac technologies, system integration, and component durability will remain essential. her future pursuits likely include the refinement of inspection standards, the integration of smart diagnostics, and the development of components resilient to high-stress operational cycles—especially where power electronics and mechanical systems must seamlessly interact for safe energy conversion.

Notable Publications

  • Title: Manufacturing Assessment of the Simplified Full-Scale Prototype of Diagnostics Shield Module (DSM) for Application of ITER Upper Port 18
    Author(s): [Author information not provided in the available data]
    Journal: Fusion Engineering and Design, August 2025

  • Title: Corrigendum to “Shut-down dose rate analysis for final design of shielding tent in port interspace of ITER UP#18”
    Author(s): [Author information not provided in the available data]
    Journal: Fusion Engineering and Design, 2024

  • Title: Optimization of Processing Parameters in Deep Penetration Electron Beam Welding of Stainless Steel 316L for ITER Diagnostic Shield Module Application
    Author(s): [Author information not provided in the available data]
    Journal: IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, 2024

  • Title: The Diagnostic Rack Design and the Functional Demonstration of the Locking Mechanism for ITER Diagnostic Lower Port Integrations
    Author(s): [Author information not provided in the available data]
    Journal: Fusion Engineering and Design, 2024

  • Title: A Comparison Study on the Derivation of In-Structure FRS During Seismic Events for Application of ITER Upper Port 18
    Author(s): [Author information not provided in the available data]
    Journal: Fusion Engineering and Design, 2023

Mr. Kyle Frey – Pharmaceutical Manufacturing – Best Researcher Award 

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Mr. Kyle Frey - Pharmaceutical Manufacturing - Best Researcher Award 

Quotient Sciences - United States

Author Profile 

ORCID 

🎓 Early academic pursuits

Kyle Frey graduated summa cum laude from the university of delaware, where his academic brilliance earned him early acceptance into thomas jefferson medical university. this strong foundation in pharmaceutical sciences laid the groundwork for a career defined by precision, innovation, and scientific curiosity. his early academic journey was marked by deep analytical thinking and a desire to explore cross-disciplinary fields such as acoustical engineering, materials science, and even power electronics in drug formulation.

💼 Professional endeavors

Kyle’s professional journey began with a pivotal role at dupont, where he was instrumental in creating the first knowledge database for thin film development in oral drug delivery systems. at quotient sciences, he introduced advanced predictive stability testing models and transformed the organization’s formulation capabilities. kyle spent over five years independently exploring resonant acoustic mixing technology, ultimately becoming one of the leading figures in this niche field. his expertise in power electronics helped bridge concepts between acoustic forces and pharmaceutical behavior, guiding groundbreaking discoveries in mixing efficiency and dosage homogeneity.

🔬 Contributions and research focus

Kyle Frey’s research revolves around resonant acoustic mixing (ram) technologies, a field that combines theoretical acoustics, engineering, and pharmaceutical science. after three months of rigorous experimentation and more than 20 months of conceptual development, he unveiled the first substantial body of work on the subject at aaps pharmsci 360 in 2023. his first two research papers—published in pharmaceutical research (nov. 2023) and the international journal of pharmaceutics (apr. 2025)—laid the conceptual groundwork for his current primary Pharmaceutical Manufacturing manuscript. his studies challenge conventional mixing paradigms and incorporate principles from power electronics to redefine how acoustic energy interacts with pharmaceutical particles.

🌟 Impact and influence

Kyle’s work has not only pushed the envelope in pharmaceutical mixing technologies but has also opened up a multidisciplinary approach to formulation science. his blend of curiosity, perseverance, and innovation has led to widespread recognition within the pharmaceutical community. his pioneering use of acoustics, informed by principles in power electronics, has Pharmaceutical Manufacturing inspired many professionals to reconsider how energy input and material properties can be harmonized for novel drug delivery systems. by developing a comprehensive framework for understanding ram, he has created a new pathway for scientists worldwide to follow.

📚 Academic cites

To date, kyle frey has three highly cited original publications: two in prestigious peer-reviewed journals (nov. 2023 and apr. 2025) and one presented at aaps pharmsci 360 in 2023. his publications have gained attention for their originality and depth, reflecting the five years of independent work he dedicated to the field. several other manuscripts—one completed and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing another in progress—promise to further expand the academic community’s understanding of resonant acoustic phenomena. his upcoming third manuscript is anticipated to synthesize all prior work and become a definitive resource in the domain.

🔭 Legacy and future contributions

Kyle's journey began with a simple thought—"i wonder if sound can be used to monitor crystallization processes"—and evolved into a life-long mission. his passion for this subject has shaped his identity as a scientist and continues to guide his work. with five total manuscripts (including two pending review articles), kyle aims to leave a lasting legacy in pharmaceutical acoustics and formulation science. his commitment to integrating advanced scientific theories, including power electronics, into real-world applications ensures that his contributions will influence future generations of researchers.

Notable Publications 

  • Title: Sample preparation techniques to enhance uniformity of Low-Dose blends mixed by resonant acoustic mixing technology
    Author: Kyle Frey
    Journal: International Journal of Pharmaceutics

  • Title: Use of Resonant Acoustic Mixing Technology for Ultra-Low-Dose Blending in a Single-Step Mixing Process
    Authors: Kyle Frey, Helen Baker, Dale K. Purcell, Andrew L. Lewis, David A. Engers
    Journal: Pharmaceutical Research

  • Title: Use of Resonant Acoustic Technology for Ultra-Low Dose Blending in a Single-Step Mixing Process
    Author: Kyle Frey
    Journal: AAPS PharmSci 360 (Conference Poster)