Biographical note

Vitalii Ivanov is an Associate Professor in the Department of Manufacturing Engineering, Machines and Tools at Sumy State University (Ukraine). He received a B.S. Degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Specialist Degree in Manufacturing Engineering from Sumy State University (Ukraine) in 2005 and 2006 respectively, and a Ph.D. Degree in Manufacturing Engineering from National Technical University Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute (Ukraine) in 2010. In 2014 he was awarded the title of International Engineering Educator (ING.PAED.IGIP) by International Society for Engineering Education. Dr. Ivanov is a member of ASME, IAENG, IGIP. Dr. Ivanov took part in research projects funded by Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, State Fund for Fundamental Researches, Ukrainian manufacturing companies, and EU grant program TEMPUS (project ENGITEC 530244-TEMPUS-1-2012-1-SE-TEMPUS-JPCR) funded by European Union. He was awarded the Scholarship of Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine for Young Researches in 2011 and 2014, and Fellowship for Research Internship from Ministry of Education and Science, Youth and Sports of Ukraine in 2011 and 2012. Vladyslav Karpus is a Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the National Academy of National Guard of Ukraine (Ukraine). He received a B.S. Degree and Specialist Degree in Automation and System Mechanization of Manufacturing Engineering from Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute (former Soviet Union) in 1973 and 1974 respectively; a Ph.D. in Manufacturing Engineering from Tula Polytechnic Institute (former Soviet Union) in 1985; and Doctor of Sciences Degree in Manufacturing Engineering from Kharkiv State Polytechnic Institute (Ukraine) in 1999. He is the principal investigator of many research projects funded by Ukrainian manufacturing companies. Dr. Karpus is a member of IAENG and a member of editorial boards of Ukrainian peer-reviewed journals. Yiming (Kevin) Rong is a Chair Professor in the Department Chair of Mechanical and Energy Engineering at South University of Science and Technology of China (Shenzhen, China). Dr. Rong received a B.S. Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Harbin University of Science and Technology (China) in 1981; an M.S. Degree in Manufacturing Engineering from Tsinghua University (China) in 1984; an M.S. Degree in Industrial Engineering from University of Wisconsin (USA) in 1987; and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from University of Kentucky (USA) in 1989. Dr. Rong worked as a faculty member at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale for eight years before joining WPI in 1998. He is a principal investigator of many research projects funded by NSF, DOE, the Air Force, SME, and several major manufacturing companies. Dr. Rong is a fellow of ASME, a member of SME and ASEE.