Topics follow in this order (click on any to go directly to topic)

BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH

CERTIFICATIONS,  PATENTS,  AWARDS

TEACHING

PROFESSIONAL  SOCIETIES

EDUCATION

SELECTED  PUBLICATIONS  AND  PRESENTATIONS

ENGINEERING  &  NUTRITION-BASED  ERGONOMICS

BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH

Dr. Joseph (Joe) R. Davis PE, CPE, CSP, EM-III has 29 years of experience
as an engineer/manager for energy, industry/manufacturing, services/offices, safety,
ergonomics, lean, six sigma, teaching, etc. He is a licensed Professional Engineer (PE),
Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE), and Certified Safety Professional (CSP). He
also holds certifications in six sigma quality (black-belt), lean manufacturing, and energy
as Energy Management III (EM-III) which is NCSU’s highest/third level energy training
for energy management/engineering.

His experience includes his current consulting work as an energy engineer/manager,
5 years (and continuing) with Engineers On Demand, Inc (EOD) as supervisory PE,
12 years with NCSU's Industrial Extension Service as engineering/ergonomics/energy specialist,
7 years with Ergonomic Engineering Incorporated as an ergonomics consultant, and
14 years with IBM as an industrial/manufacturing engineer and manager of
IBM's Research Triangle Park, NC site's Advanced Manufacturing Engineering
department for the development and implementation of strategic
manufacturing technologies for flexible production systems,
machine vision, and automated assembly.

Dr. Davis' current activities are a blend of applied engineering and teaching.
For this work, Joe has had over 1,200 assistance interactions with
companies. His applied engineering work is primarily for technical
services (energy, engineering, ergonomics, layouts, time studies, lean, six sigma, etc.)
to save energy (via energy engineering/management), improve quality (via six sigma),
reduce costs and shorten delivery lead-time (via lean techniques) while maintaining
a productive/safe (via ergonomics) workplace.

An NCSU program called "Extension Student Workers-on-Demand" was the brainchild
of Dr. Davis to provide opportunities for engineering students to work on projects
at companies. This program provides meaningful career-related work experience as
applied educaton for college students while simultaneously assisting companies
for solving technical challenges, reducing costs, improving productivity, etc.
Joe has supervised 53 students working at 41 companies for over $500,000 of
projects (time/motion study, quality, facility layout, ergonomics, lean, energy, etc.).
Dr. Davis is a recipient of NCSU's Outstanding Extension Service Award,
which NCSU's Provost Office describes as "one of the highest honors
that a faculty member can receive at NC State University."

Also, as a professional service activity, Dr. Davis serves as supervisory engineer for
recently graduated engineers working with Engineers On Demand, Inc (EOD) in
accordance with engineering laws regulated by the NC Board of Examiners for Engineers.
Because NC law requires a licensed PE as supervisor for engineers who want to publicly advertise
or provide engineering services, Dr. Davis provides this supervisory engineering service at
no personal financial benefit and free-of-charge for recent engineering graduates to help
them gain meaningful career-related work experience to get started on their careers
in association with Engineers On Demand, Inc (EOD) which is owned by a graduate of
NCSU's College of Engineering. NCSU's program "Extension Student Workers-on-Demand" is
for current students, and Engineers On Demand Inc (EOD) is for graduated engineers. EOD was
created primarily to help recently graduated engineers who need career-related work experience
in the short-term (typically weeks or months) to help them get the experience needed to
obtain a more permanent long-term engineering job.

To ensure no conflict with his primary work as an energy engineer/manager, Dr. Davis
provides supervisory engineering services for EOD's engineers during his personal time,
not during his professional work time. Also, to ensure proper supervision, Dr. Davis limits
the number of engineers under his supervision to a manageable number. Many of EOD
engineers' work tasks (productivity improvement, cost reduction, etc.) done at companies
are not considered under NC law to be engineering work that requires supervision by a
licensed professional engineer. In those cases, Dr. Davis still serves as supervisory
engineer by providing advice and guidance to achieve successful results rapidly via
savvy solutions based on his many years of experience with supervising engineers and
helping companies achieve their goals.

In addition to his work (energy, etc.) and professional service (EOD) activities,
Dr. Davis enjoys pursuing effective leading-edge innovative solutions such as
nutrition-based ergonomics along with traditional engineering-based solutions in
industrial workplaces and in office/computer settings. These two services of
engineering and ergonomics are complementary and synergistic because
industrial engineering techniques can first be used to improve productivity
by increasing output with the same people and equipment existing within
a company, and then ergonomic analysis can be utilized to minimize the
risk of ergonomic hazards within people and equipment operating at
peak efficiency with faster output rates. Additionally,
nutrition-based ergonomics is essential for ergonomic success,
and this is explained in the section at the end of this website.

CERTIFICATIONS,  PATENTS,  AWARDS

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS & REGISTRATIONS
2008 - Energy Management (EM-III) as NC State University’s highest/third level
2007 - Energy Auditing via Association of Energy Engineers (AEE)
2007 - Lean certification via Society of Manufacturing Engineers
2005 - Six sigma quality black-belt certification via NC State University
1998 - MOST-Applicator for time study and work methods analysis
1995 - Certified Safety Professional (CSP), USA registration #13262
1994 - Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE), USA registration #254
1992 - ISO 9000 international quality standard
1982 - Licensed as Professional Engineer (PE), North Carolina license #11016

PATENTS
Ergonomic handle design for hand saw, U. S. Patent #D395588 (applied 6/30/94, issued 6/30/98).

AWARDS
2000 - Inducted into NCSU's Academy of Outstanding Faculty Engaged in Extension

1999 - NCSU Outstanding Service Award ($2,000) which as stated in a letter from NCSU's
Provost Dr. Charles Moreland: "This award is one of the highest honors that a faculty
member can receive at NC State University."

1995 - Gold award for excellence as President of Raleigh, NC chapter (240 engineers as members)
of the Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE) technical society

1990 - Outstanding presentation award as best paper of 26 papers by presenters
from 14 countries at an IBM sponsored design-for-manufacturability conference

TEACHING (1992-present)

Dr. Davis has taught multiple short-courses and practical seminars at companies
on energy, lean techniques, six sigma quality (green-belt & black-belt), ergonomics,
time study (modern video-based) and work methods for manufacturers & services
with attendee feedback comments such as “Instructor knows his stuff...”
and “Great teaching... Thanks for a very successful program.”
For short-courses, an example of his teaching effectiveness is that he received
teaching performance ratings of 4.7 to 5.0 (highest possible rating was 5.0) in
course evaluations completed by working professionals as attendees.

Also, he has taught full-semester engineering courses within the
Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering departments at
NC State University in Raleigh, NC. His teaching experience includes
engineering courses such as statics, dynamics, fluid mechanics, ergonomics
strength of mechanical components, dynamics of machines, quality, etc. For
full-semester courses, an example of his teaching effectiveness is that he received a
4.56 teaching rating (highest possible rating was 5 and department average was 4.01)
in course evaluations completed by college students.

Dr. Davis emphasizes teaching complex concepts in clear/understandable terms.
He completed NCSU's Teaching Effectiveness course including teaching methods
for different learning modes (sensing/intuitive, visual/verbal, inductive/deductive,
active/reflective, sequential/global). Also, he utilizes attention-getting teaching
techniques from training Focus on the Front of the Room for keeping the
attention and learning motivation of adult learners in short-courses and workshops.
He takes pride in accomplishing effective teaching for all types of learners.

Additionally, he provides opportunities for hands-on learning via projects at companies.
For example, Dr. Davis supervised 53 students working at 41 companies for over $500,000
of projects for time/motion study, quality, facility layout, ergonomics, lean, energy, etc.

PROFESSIONAL  SOCIETIES

Institute of Industrial Engineers senior Member, current President of Raleigh,NC chapter,
and U.S. regional Vice President of mid-Atlantic states (NC, SC, VA, etc.)

Human Factors and Ergonomics Society member, advisory board, and past President of NC & SC

Professional Member:
Association of Energy Engineers
American Society of Safety Engineers

Honor Societies:
Tau Beta Pi (for engineers)
Alpha Pi Mu (for industrial engineers)
Phi Kappa Phi (top 1% of all)
Academy of Outstanding Faculty at NC State University (inducted in 2000)

EDUCATION

Note: Earned MS and PhD degrees via part-time studies while working full-time.

Ph.D. INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING
May 1997 - North Carolina State University
Major: Ergonomics/Biomechanics
Minor: Production/Energy Systems
Dissertation: A Transverse Contour Model of Distributed
Muscle Forces and Spinal Loads during Lifting and Twisting

M.S. INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING
May 1986 - North Carolina State University
Major: Production/Energy Systems
Minor: Economics

B.S. MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
North Carolina State University

SELECTED  PUBLICATIONS  AND  PRESENTATIONS

Dr. Davis has authored multiple publications for books and refereed journal articles.
Additionally, he has made many presentations at international conferences.

1. Davis,J. (2008) Lean Energy - Applying Lean Techniques to Save Energy
   in all Facilities (manufacturers, offices, etc.) to be presented at April 27-30, 2008
   MEP National Conference in Orlando, FL and published in conference on-line proceedings.

2. Davis,J. (2007) Engaging Students in Extension for Impressive Revenue and Marketing
   Results, presented at March 12-14, 2007 NC State Extension Conference in Raleigh, NC
   and published in conference on-line proceedings. Also, presented at April 21-25, 2007
   MEP National Conference in Orlando, FL and published in conference on-line proceedings.

3. Davis,J. (2005 & 2006) The Importance of Proper Nutrition for
   Solving Ergonomic Problems (back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, etc.)
   presented Sept 21-23, 2005 at American Society of Safety Engineers
   Region-6 PDC conference in Myrtle Beach, SC and published in conference
   CD proceedings. Also, due to popular demand/requests by attendees,
   was invited back (conference registration and hotel gratis) and
   presented again at this annual conference Sept 18-20, 2006.

4. Davis,J. (2004) The Importance of Proper Nutrition for Prevention and
   Healing of Joint/Back Pain and Muscle/Tendon Injuries in Weekend Athletes
   seminar presented at sports group meetings (at RSOC on June 8, 2004, at YWCA, etc.).

5. Davis,J. and Stikeleather,L. (2004) Ergonomic Technology Transfer from the
   Industrial Manufacturing Sector to NC's Agricultural Cottage Industries
   presented at August 1-4, 2004 ASAE (American Society of Agricultural Engineers)
   Annual International Conference in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and
   published (ASAE paper # 045012) in conference proceedings.

6. Davis,J. (2004) The Importance of Proper Nutrition for Prevention and
   Healing of Joint/Back Pain and Muscle/Tendon Injuries in Workplace "Athletes"
   seminar presented at companies throughout the southeast US and at the
   US Dept of Agriculture wellness event held May 5, 2004 in Raleigh, NC.

7. Davis,J. (2003) The Importance of Proper Nutrition for Solving
   Ergonomics Problems (Back Pain, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, etc.) seminar
   presented at companies throughout NC (Sanford, Morrisville, Raleigh, etc.).

8. Davis,J. (2002) How Personal Nutrition relates to Solving Ergonomics Problems
   by Traditional Methods (Engineering & Medical) seminar
   presented at companies throughout NC (Zebulon, Youngsville, Raleigh, etc.).

9. Davis,J. (2001) Technologies as Both Causes and Cures of Ergonomic Maladies and
   Ergonomic Design for Reverse Logistics, De-Manufacturing, and Re-Manufacturing
   presented at March 12-15, 2001 Applied Ergonomics Conference in Orlando, Florida
   and both of these papers were published in the conference CD proceedings.

10. Davis,J. and Owen,J. (2002) Working Safely: Ergonomic Issues (& Solutions),
    5-page publication CTN-035 via NC Cooperative Extension Service
    for improving ergonomics and working more safely.

11. Davis,J. (2001) High-Tech but Low-Cost Ergonomic Solutions
    in book Applied Ergonomics, edited by David C. Alexander & Randall A. Rabourn,
    published by Taylor & Francis, New York, NY using selected papers presented
    at March 13-16, 2000 Applied Ergonomics Conference in Los Angeles, CA, p.82-95.

12. Davis,J. and Stikeleather,L. (2001) Ergonomic Technology Transfer from the
    Industrial Manufacturing Sector to NC's Agricultural Cottage Industries
    presented at May 30, 2001 Agromedicine Conference in Flatwoods, WV
    and abstract published in Journal of Agromedicine.

13. Davis,J. (2000) High-Tech, Low-Cost Ergonomic Solutions
    IIE Solutions (monthly journal of Institute of Industrial Engineers),
    March 2000, 32(3), p.31-35.

14. Davis,J. and Mirka,G. (2000) Transverse Contour Modeling of Trunk Muscle
    Distributed Forces and Spinal Loads during Lifting and Twisting, Spine, 25(2), p.180- 189.

15. Davis,J. (1999) book chapter Proactive Ergonomics via Technology-based Solutions
    in book Applied Ergonomics Case Studies - Volume 2, edited by David C. Alexander and
    published by Engineering and Management Press, Norcross, GA using selected papers
    presented at March 9-11, 1999 Applied Ergonomics Conference in Houston, TX, p.102-114.

16. Davis,J. (1999) book section Video-based Time Studies in book Work Management
    Fundamentals: Methods Analysis, Time Study, and Work Sampling, edited by C. L. Smith,
    published by N. C. State University's Industrial Extension Service, and used for
    short-course Time Study & Work Sampling taught quarterly to engineers and practitioners.

17. Davis,J. (1998) book chapter Practical Ergonomic Solutions via Cost-effective
    Rapidly-deployed Automation and book chapter Efficient Decision-Making for Ergonomic
    Problem-Solving in book Ergonomic Process Management: A Blueprint for Quality and
    Compliance, editor Dr. James Kohn, CRC Press - Lewis Publishers, p.232-269.

18. Davis,J. (1998) book chapter Ergonomics at a Medical Device Assembly Plant in book
    Applied Ergonomics Case Studies - Volume 1, edited by David C. Alexander and
    published by Engineering and Management Press using selected papers presented
    at March 10-11, 1998 Applied Ergonomics Conference in Atlanta, GA, p.119-131.

19. Davis,J. and Mirka,G. (1997) A Transverse Contour Model of Distributed Muscle Forces and
    Spinal Loads during Lifting and Twisting, presented at HFES conference held Sept. 22- 26, 1997
    in Albuquerque, NM and published in Proceedings of Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
    41st Annual Meeting, p.675-679.

20. Davis,J. (1997) A Transverse Contour Model of Distributed Muscle Forces and Spinal Loads
    during Lifting and Twisting, doctoral thesis (211 pages), Department of Industrial Engineering,
    North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.

21. Davis,J., Mirka,G., Pearson,R. (1997) Industrial Noise Effects on Muscle Activation and
    Implications for Spinal Loading presented at Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE) annual
    international conference held May 17-21, 1997 in Miami, FL and published in Proceedings of
    the Sixth Annual Industrial Engineering Research Conference, p.737-742.

22. Mirka,G., Kelaher,D., Baker,A., Harrison,A., Davis,J. (1997) Selective Activation of the External
    Oblique Musculature during Axial Torque Production, Clinical Biomechanics, 12(3), p.172-180.

23. Mirka,G., Glasscock,N., Stanfield,P., Psihogias,J., Davis,J. (1996) The Use of Multivariate
    Johnson Distributions to Model Trunk Muscle Coactivation, Proceedings of the Human Factors
    and Ergonomics Society 40th Annual Meeting from Sept.2-6, 1996 conference in Philadelphia,PA.

24. Davis,J. (1996) Practical Decision Analysis for Ergonomics in Industry presented at
    Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE) annual international conference held May 19-22, 1996
    in Minneapolis, Minnesota and published in 1996 IIE Proceedings.

25. Davis,J. (1996) book chapter A Multi-criteria Decision Model for Prescribing Optimal Ergonomic
    Action Strategies for Industry in book Human Interaction with Complex Systems
    edited by C.Ntuen & E.Park and published by Kluwer Academic Publishers (Boston) using
    selected papers presented at Sept. 17-20, 1995 ergonomics symposium by N.C. A&T
    State University in Greensboro, NC, p.165-183.

26. Davis,J. (1995) Automation and Other Strategies for Compliance with OSHA Ergonomics
    presented at Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE) annual conference May 21-24, 1995 in
    Nashville, TN and published in Proceedings of 1995 Industrial Engineering Conference, 592-599.

27. Kelaher,D., Mirka,G., Baker,A., Harrison,A., Davis,J. (1995) Selective Activation of the External
    Obliques during Twisting, Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 39th
    Annual Meeting, p.610-614.

28. Davis,J. (1995) Automation and Other Strategies for OSHA Ergonomics Compliance,
    Industrial Engineering, Feb'95, 27(2), p.48-51.

29. Davis,J. (1994) OSHA Ergonomic Regulations: Expected Costs and Anticipated Actions
    by Industry (sole author) and A Study of the Interaction Between Load and Coupling
    during Lifting (5 authors), presented in Nashville, TN at Oct.24-28, 1994 conference of
    Human Factors and Ergonomics Society and published in HFES Proceedings, p. 644-648 and 957.

30. Davis,J. (1993) Multiattribute Decision Analysis for Predicting Industry Response
    to Ergonomic Regulations, presented in Raleigh, NC at May 5-8, 1993 Interface'93
    conference sponsored by the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society and published in
    Interface'93 Proceedings, p. 118-123.

31. Davis,J. (1993) Vibration White Finger in Industry: Prevalence and Control,
    received outstanding paper award at Spring 1993 conference of the North Carolina Chapter
    of the Acoustical Society of America.

32. Davis,J. (1992) Material Handling and Ergonomic Considerations for Manual Methods
    of Small Parts Movement, Cleaning, and Storage for a Cleanroom Environment,
    April 1992 IBM Technical Report #29.1374.

33. Davis,J. (1990) Micro-Manufacturing for Final Product Assembly,
    received outstanding presentation award as best paper out of 26 papers by
    presenters from 14 countries at IBM design-for-manufacturability conference.

ENGINEERING  &  NUTRITION-BASED  ERGONOMICS

Nutrition-based ergonomics is an important new approach that is useful
both proactively (stronger workers with fewer injuries and less absenteeism)
and reactively (helps injured workers heal faster and return to work quicker).
Even the best ergonomically engineered workplace will still have workers
getting hurt if their nutrition is deficient so they have weak muscles,
joints, tendons, ligaments, etc. Nutrition-based solutions are based on the
biomechanical logic (Dr.Davis's PhD dissertation) of needing to strengthen
a complex system (human body) at its building-block foundation (cellular level)
because just as no chain is stronger than its weakest link, the human body
is no stronger than its weakest cell. Examples are how cancer in one cell
can spread in the body, and how a weak cell on the edge of a tendon can
initiate a tear that spreads across a tendon and causes injury.

Nutrition-based solutions are endorsed by the medical community
which published important findings in the journal of the
American Medical Association (AMA, June 2002)
which said:
"Recent evidence has shown that suboptimal levels
of vitamins, even well above those causing deficiency
syndromes, are risk factors for chronic diseases such
as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and osteoporosis.
A large proportion of the general population is
apparently at increased risk for this reason."
&
"Most people do not consume an optimal amount of
all vitamins by diet alone. Pending strong evidence
of effectiveness from randomized trials, it appears
prudent for all adults to take vitamin supplements."

Nutrition is the biomechanical human element of engineering-based ergonomics
which also includes mechanical solutions (tools, equipment, layouts, etc.).
It is important to recognize the distinction between engineering-based
ergonomic services and medical/therapy-based ergonomic service providers.
Medical/therapy-based ergonomic services are provided by many consultants
who have backgrounds in medicine, physical therapy, or industrial hygiene and
therefore focus solution efforts on treating symptoms via medications, rest breaks,
exercises, stretches, and job rotation. Medical/therapy-based services are
beneficial for helping recuperate injured individuals, but it is important to
recognize that medical/therapy services treat the symptoms, not root causes, of
workplace conditions that caused injury. Engineering-based ergonomic services
are provided by relatively few consultants who have degrees and professional
registrations in engineering, biomechanics, & ergonomics and accordingly focus
on identifying and correcting root causes (not only symptoms) via analysis of
forces, postures, repetitions, and other parameters with resulting solutions
for improving nutrition, designs, equipment, tools, layouts, work methods, etc.
For an example of his ergonomic engineering projects at companies, click here.

This page was created on July 26, 1998 and was last updated on April 17, 2008