M. Eugene Merchant

M. Eugene Merchant, P.E., a pioneer in the field of manufacturing engineering, died Aug. 19 in Hyde Park, Ohio. He was 93. In the early 1940s Merchant developed the basic theory of metal cutting. His groundbreaking research made it easier for manufacturing engineers to determine the type of tooling needed to provide the optimum cut, how to regulate the amount of power needed to make a cut, and the effect on the metal's temperature. His theory has been used worldwide, and is still considered the best available for explaining and developing the machining process. In addition, Merchant's philosophy of computer-integrated manufacturing systems, which he developed in the 1950s, has become the standard operating practice for manufacturers throughout the world. In 1986, ASME and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers established the M. Eugene Merchant Manufacturing Medal in honor of these and other contributions to engineering. He became an ASME member in 1945.

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Other Obituaries:

Baldwin, Neil A. (1918-2006), Danville, Ill. Central Illinois Section. Member 1943.

Bliss, Donald S. (1913-2006), Albuquerque, N.M. New Mexico Section. Member 1941.

Chrisman, John L. (1912-2006), Nevada City, Calif. Sacramento-Sierra Nevada Section. Member 1935.

Decamp, Robert A. (1924-2006), Kansas City, Mo. Kansas City Section. Fellow 1950.

Downs, Stephen J. (1949-2006), Central City, Ky. Evansville Section. Member 1983.

Duncan, Alexander B. (1927-2006), New Durham, N.H. Northern New England Section. Member 1971.

Elser, Martin J. (1934-2005), Long Beach, Calif. Los Angeles Section. Member 1961.

Halsey, George H. (1922-2006), Durham, N.C. Eastern North Carolina Section. Member 1949.

Harris, James K. (1943-2006), Severna Park, Md. Baltimore Section. Member 1977.

Hatch, Frank R. (1914-2005), March Air Reserve Base, Calif. California Inland Section. Member 1948.

Holt, John I. (1982-2006), Birmingham, Ala. Nashville Section. Member 2002.

Johnson, Darrel V. (1916-2005), Lees Summit, Mo. Kansas City Section. Member 1940.

Kennedy, John C. (1943-2006), Virginia Beach, Va. Eastern Virginia Section. Member 1992.

Licht, Lazar (1919-2006), San Rafael, Calif. San Francisco Section. Member 1954.

McConchie, Warren A. (1925-2006), Brewster, Mass. Boston Section. Member 1954.

Modi, Vinod J. (1929-2006), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. British Columbia Section. Fellow 1965.

Mullen, Thomas Y. (1915-2006), Alamo, Calif. Mt. Diablo Section. Fellow 1937.

Owens, Phillip R. (1920-2006), Albuquerque, N.M. New Mexico Section. Member 1968.

Rice, Arthur H. (1914-2006), Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati Section. Member 1936.

Sanchez, Fred M. (1928-2006), San Leandro, Calif. San Francisco Section. Member 1970.

Sebrell, Wayne A. (1931-2006), Albuquerque, N.M. New Mexico Section. Member 1959.

Simonson, Howard E. (1912-2006), Bartlesville, Okla. Bartlesville Subsection. Member 1936.

Smith, Francis R. (1933-2006), Renton, Wash. Western Washington Section. Member 1961.

Stapp, Charles J. (1926-2006), Oklahoma City, Okla. Central Oklahoma Section. Member 1952.

Taylor, Albert (1921-2006), Arcadia, Calif. Los Angeles Section. Member 1966.

Tornillo, Edward J. (1930-2005), Monroe, Conn. Fairfield County Section. Member 1959.

Yamada, Masuo (1934-2006), Cerritos, Calif. Los Angeles Section. Member 1957.

 

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