David O. Kazmer, P.E., Ph.D.
Specializing in plastic product design and polymer process development.

Scope

The goal of the Process Monitoring & Control Special Interest Group is to understand the process behavior and the development of process models, monitors and sensors; and provide a forum for the discussion of measurement science used by polymer processors to overcome challenges faced in the pursuit of improved product quality and productivity.

Call for Papers

The SPE ANTEC website will soon be accepting abstracts for the 2008 ANTEC to be held May 4-8 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Process Monitoring & Control group is accepting abstracts in the following areas:

New sensor designs for injection molding, extrusion, thermoforming, blow molding, and other plastics manufacturing processes

Case studies showing the validation or commercial application of sensors and monitoring systems

Prediction and control of final part quality

Incorporation of simulation and modeling into sensors, monitoring, and control systems

Sensing philosophies and implementation methodologies (e.g. Six Sigma, Scientific Molding, etc.)

Fundamental process modeling and analysis of polymer states for monitoring and control

Advanced machine or mold designs incorporating new monitoring and control principles

Critical deadlines are as follows:

October 15, 2007: Abstract Submission Deadline

December 3, 2007: Paper Submission Deadline

January 9, 2008: Final Paper Revision Deadline

Executive Committee

• Chair: Dr. David Kazmer, Prof., Univ. Mass. Lowell, david_kazmer@uml.edu, http://kazmer.uml.edu
• Vice-Chair: Dr. Russell Speight, Director, Moldflow Pty Ltd
• Secretary: Dr. Furong Gao, Prof., Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
• Immediate-Past Chair: Anthony Bjur, National Institute of Standards and Technology
• Councilor: Vacant, to be filled at the 2008 ANTEC

Advisory Board (alphabetically arranged by last name)

• Fred Buja, Fred Buja, SPE Fellow & President of FjP PlasTechnology
• Mark Caldwell, Vice President, Gefran ISI Inc.
• Christopher Choi, Director of Technology, Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
• Philip Coates, Professor & Director, University of Bradford
• António M. Cunha, Dean of Engineering, University of Minho
• Dan Hazen, Product Manager, MKS Instruments
• Lee Hutson, Principle Engineer, Baxter Healthcare Corporation
• Joachim Kragl, Manager Processing Technology, Engel Canada Inc
• Susan Montgomery, President, Priamus Systems
• Byung Ohk Rhee, Professor, Ajou University, Korea
• Art Schubert, Chief Engineer, RJG

Provisional By-Laws

The following provisional by-laws will be presented, discussed, modified as necessary, and ratified at the 2008 Executive Committee meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Name

The name of the organization shall be the Process Monitoring and Control Special Interest Group (PMC SIG) of the Society of Plastics Engineers, Inc.

Purpose

The purpose of the PMC SIG is to 1) provide and promote education and science in the field of plastics engineering related to the process behavior and the development of process models, monitors and sensors; and 2) provide a forum for the discussion of measurement science used by polymer processors to overcome challenges faced in the pursuit of improved product quality and productivity.

Membership

Membership in the PMC SIG is open to all members of SPE.  Members shall maintain the same grade of membership as assigned by the Society of Plastics Engineers.  Member grades consist of:  Distinguished Members, Fellows of the Society, Honored Service Members, Honorary Members, Senior Members, Members, Affiliate Members, Student Members, and Student Affiliate Members.

Governing Authority

The PMC SIG is incorporated under and shall be governed by the laws of the State of Connecticut.

Executive Committee and Advisory Board

Section 1.    Functions. 

Management of the PMC SIG is vested in an Executive Committee (EC).  The EC is responsible for the following:

Section 2.    Executive Committee Composition. 

The Executive Committee is composed of at least five elected Officers.  Their terms of office are as follows:

PMC SIG Officers

Chair                                                          - one year

Chair-Elect                                                 - one year

Secretary                                                    - one year

Councilor (Council Representative)             - three years

Immediate Past-Chair                                 - one year

 

All terms shall commence July 1, except that of Councilor, which shall commence after the annual business meeting.

Section 3.    Vacating Board Positions. 

The PMC SIG Executive Committee will declare a position vacated upon receipt of a resignation received in writing or at a Executive Committee meeting.  Also the EC may declare a seat vacant whenever an Officer fails to meet eligibility requirements, fails to perform duties, or for any other cause the EC justifies for removal.  Removal for failure to perform requires a two-third-majority vote of all Officers.  Officers failing to attend the annual EC business meeting will be considered to have resigned their elected positions, except for excused absences.

Section 4.    Interim Elections. 

When a vacancy occurs, the EC will elect an interim Officer to complete the fiscal year, or complete the term of office if more than one year remains.

Section 5.    Meetings. 

Executive Committee Meetings of Board of Directors are called by the Chair and will be held at the SPE ANTEC.  A quorum will exist when the majority of Officers are present.  Written notice and the Order of Business (agenda) is prepared by the Chair, and must be sent to all Officers at least one week prior to each meeting.

Section 6.    Duties of Officers. 

In addition to responsibilities as a Director and other duties outlined herein, the Chair may delegate additional duties to be performed by other PMC SIG Officers.

1. Chair: The Chair shall represent the interests of the PMC SIG to the Executive Board of the Society of Plastics Engineers, participate in the planning meetings for the SPE ANTEC, publicize the activities of the PMC SIG, solicit articles for the PMC SIG meetings, prepare and distribute the agenda for the annual business meeting, and lead the business meeting.
2. Chair-elect: The Chair-Elect shall participate in the planning meetings for the SPE ANTEC, assist in the paper review process, organize the accepted papers into sessions, assign session chairs, and attend the annual business meeting.
3. Secretary: The Secretary shall lead the paper review process, attend the annual business meeting, transcribe notes from the annual business meeting, and maintain a log of the PMC SIG activities.
4. Immediate Past-Chair: The Immediate Past-Chair shall provide assistance to the PMC SIG Officers, act as an interim Officer in the event that an EC position is vacated and unable to be satisfactorily filled, and attend the annual business meeting.

Section 7.    Advisory Board 

The PMC SIG Advisory Board is authorized to promote PMC SIG interests between meetings and to provide ongoing guidance.

1.      Composition - The Steering Committee of the PMC will consist of the members of the Executive Committee together with distinguished individuals elected by the Executive Committee Officers.

2.      Limitation of Powers - The Advisory Board is subject to the PMC SIG Rules and Operating Procedures.  Any action taken must be in harmony with the actions of the Executive Committee.  Only expenditures provided for in the budget and approved by the Executive Committee are allowed.

3.      Minutes - Minutes of each Executive Committee meeting will be distributed promptly to all Advisory Board members. 

4.      Upon the request of two or more Advisory Board members, any proposal must be submitted to the Executive Committee for consideration.

Elections

Section 1.    Elections. 

Officers are elected by secret mail ballot to the PMC SIG membership.  Officers are elected annually in May at the Executive Committee business meeting by secret ballot, at a regular meeting.  All Officers serve for a term of one year, all terms shall commence July 1.

Section 2.    Nominating Committee. 

The committee will nominate eligible members for each vacancy for the next fiscal year and present its nominations to the Chair by April 15th.  Nominations are required annually for Officers and Advisory Board Members, and every third year for Councilor.

Section 3.    Eligibility of Members to Serve. 

Every Board Member must be a member of the Society of voting grade in good standing at the time of nomination, election and during their term.  To be eligible for election as an Officer, a candidate must be a Director at the time of the nomination.  The Councilor may not serve as an Officer during their term as Councilor.  Certain members are restricted or have limited eligibility to serve on the Board of Directors.

1.      The following are eligible to vote and to hold office:  Members, Senior Member, Fellows, Honored Service Members and Distinguished Members.

2.      The following can vote and hold office, except Councilor or Society office: Affiliate member.

3.      The following are not eligible to vote and hold office:  Student, Student Affiliate and Honorary Member.

Section 4.    Election of Officers. 

By April 15th the Nominating Committee will nominate from the eligible Directors at least one but no more than three candidates for the positions of:  Chair, Chair-Elect, Secretary, and Councilor.

The criteria for officer position eligibility are as follows:

1.      There may be no more than three candidates for each position,

2.      A candidate must be a member in good standing,

3.      A candidate must have indicated a willingness and ability to serve,

4.      Officers completing their terms can be nominated, and

5.      Nominations can be made by any Officer if accepted, seconded, and the nominee gives consent.

The Executive Committee will meet in May to elect officers for the next fiscal year.

Section 5.    Election Procedure. 

If more than one nomination for an office is made, election will be by secret ballot.  Election to office is determined by a simple majority vote, no proxy ballots are permitted.  If there are more than two candidates, and the first ballot does not produce a majority vote, than the candidate receiving the least votes will be dropped from the ballot.  The ballot will be repeated until one candidate receives the majority vote.

Officers are elected in the following order: Chair, Chair-Elect, Secretary, and Councilor when necessary.

Section 6.    Balloting. 

At the Executive Committee meeting, the Secretary will provide ballots to all voting members affiliated with the PMC SIG.  A ballot will include the following:

1.      Name of the Process Monitoring and Control Special Interest Group

2.      Names of candidates

3.      Space for one write-in-vote

4.      Plain, unsigned ballot envelope

Section 7.    Counting of Ballots.

The Secretary will verify that each ballot returned is that of a voting-class-member (member in good standing).  All valid ballots will be delivered to the Executive Committee before the close of the business meeting.

The candidate receiving the majority votes will be elected. All ballots will be retained by the Committee for at least 30 days.

Board Positions

The members of the Board of Directors and Officers shall fulfill those duties prescribed by the laws of the State of Connecticut.

Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the PMC SIG shall be July 1 to the 30th day of June the following year.

Committees

The PMC SIG shall establish and operate committees as described in the Society’s Operational Guidelines.

Separate Legal Entities

The PMC SIG is a legal entity, separate from the Society.  The PMC SIG is not responsible for the debts or obligations of the Society and the Society is not responsible for the debts or obligations of the PMC SIG.

Amendments

These bylaws may be amended by the Board of Directors with the approval of the Council of the Society.