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Markus Heinimann, Ph.D.
Senior Technical Specialist
Product Development and Analysis Division
Alcoa Technical Center
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“The community of technical experts that participate in the various ASTM committees is absolutely world class. The opportunity to interact and discuss technical issues with these experts on a continual basis is invaluable.” |
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Who is your current employer and what is your current position? |
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I am a senior technical specialist in the Product Development and Analysis Division at the Alcoa Technical Center, located outside Pittsburgh in Alcoa Center, Pa. I am currently responsible for coordinating the development, evaluation, and validation of advanced structural concepts for aerospace applications, and for integration of these concepts in cooperative research activities with major aerospace companies. |
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Where did you obtain your undergraduate/ graduate degree(s) and in what fields? |
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I received my B.S. in aeronautics and astronautics from Purdue University in 1992, majoring in structures and aerodynamics. I stayed on for graduate school and received my M.S. and Ph.D. in aeronautics and astronautics from Purdue in 1994 and 1997, respectively. |
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When and why did you become involved in ASTM International? |
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I became a member of ASTM in 1995 at the recommendation of my graduate school faculty advisor. In 1996, I was a member of a small group of Purdue graduate students working in the field of fatigue and fracture mechanics, and we formed one of the first student chapters of ASTM Committee E08 on Fatigue and Fracture. Much of my professional career has been spent dealing with fatigue and fracture issues in aerospace structures, and my continued membership in ASTM Committee E08 has been very useful in my career. |
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In which committees are you active? Are you a committee officer; if so, what group or groups? |
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I am an active member of Committee E08 and its subcommittees. I also serve as cochair of Subcommittee E08.04 on Structural Applications, and I am the task group chairman for Task Group E08.04.05 on Design Criteria. |
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How do you apply ASTM standards in your work? |
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My employer, Alcoa, uses ASTM standards from a variety of committees to qualify our materials and to establish material properties in a standardized fashion. However, my direct interest in ASTM standards and standards development is based on how existing standards might be applied to the advanced structures we are developing, or what new standards might be needed to address the capabilities and characteristics of these structures. |
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Apart from using standards, are there advantages to participating in standards development? |
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The community of technical experts that participate in the various ASTM committees is absolutely world class. The opportunity to interact and discuss technical issues with these experts on a continual basis is invaluable. ASTM committees provide an excellent forum to exchange novel ideas and concepts and get unbiased feedback, and also to allow members to stay informed about the latest developments in their respective fields. Having personal connections to technical experts and leaders in industry and academia has allowed me to establish numerous collaborative research and development programs.
I also find the process of building consensus standards very interesting and educational. In a standards development organization such as ASTM International, one individual or group cannot dictate a standard. Instead the committee members have to work to build consensus, and thus have to address any objections from all members. While this process can be tedious, it is also an excellent model of how to resolve conflict and build support and consensus. The skills learned in working in the standard development community can also be applied in everyday professional and personal situations with great success.
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What are some of your favorite aspects of your job? |
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I love the challenge of developing novel ideas for designing and building aerospace structures. To collaborate directly with research and development leaders at aircraft manufacturers and experts in academia and government to develop solutions for the next generation aircraft structures is exciting. |
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Are there advantages that you can identify that result from having an understanding of standards? |
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An understanding of standards is important in any technical field because properties or performance are evaluated using standards and products are expected to meet standard criteria. An involvement in standards development is particularly critical for anyone involved in developing new materials or products because the items will be evaluated using existing standards, and new standards may be necessary or desired to fully capture the attributes and potential of the new product. |
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Are there any words of wisdom that you can offer to professionals starting out in your field? |
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The old saying “It is not what you know, but who you know!” is still applicable today. Professionals just starting their career need to work at developing a network of colleagues and experts in their chosen field. Having such a network is critical to gathering good feedback on novel ideas, receiving impartial input on technical issues, and keeping up with the latest technologies. Standard and technical organizations not only provide the opportunity for networking, but can also provide opportunity to develop leadership skills by working in task groups and subcommittees.
Just about everybody who works in a technical field is, in one way or another, working with or affected by standards, and as such should consider becoming a member of the relevant standard development community. This way you are not only a user of the standards, but have a voice in the development, modification and reapproval of the standards that affect you and your company.
2007
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