Work Experience
Novarc Technologies
(Vancouver, BC, Canada) November 2021 - Present
Deputy Chief Technology Officer & Vice President of Innovations (Smarting Welding Robots)
Novarc Technologies is a full-stack robotics company specializing in the design and manufacturing of cobots and AI-based machine vision solutions for autonomous welding.
Novarc’s Spool Welding Robot (SWR) is the world’s first of its kind in pipe welding applications. Products are currently in operation in the US, Canada, Germany, Australia, UAE, and expanding globally as fabricators secure Novarc’s solution to increase capacity and lower costs.
NovAI™ (Our cutting-edge solution) brings perception and cognition to your articulated robotic and mechanized welders! This revolutionary AI-powered robotic vision system further increases the ROI of automated welding and automates tasks that could not be automated before.
NovAI™ At a Glance
Intelligent Adaptive WeldingDelivers best in class seam tracking, tack and gap adaptation for multi-pass, multi-layer welding. | Continuous ImprovementEngineered to convert weld data into continuingly improving ML models to achieve higher accuracy. | Scalable SolutionDesigned to be used with different types of welding robots, welding processes, and deployment scenarios. |
Our Vision is to lead the innovation of AI and Automation in welding.
Our Mission is to create intelligent welding cobots that work alongside humans to automate some of the world’s toughest welding jobs.
As a Canadian pioneer in the field of collaborative robotics, Novarc has a dedicated team of engineers and scientists eager to solve challenging industrial automation problems.
SKC Engineering - a Division of Applus RTD
(Vancouver, BC, Canada) February 2015 - November 2021
Manager of Adv. Engrg. & Digital Twins - Machine Learning in Manufacturing (Senior Consulting Engineer)
Applus+ , with over 20,000 employees, delivers technical excellence in industrial sectors across the globe. SKC Engineering – a division of Applus+ in Canada, leads high-end services through digital engineering, machine-learning, simulation and modeling solutions, digital twins, control and automation. The focus here is the manufacturing and fabrication sectors serving over 250 clients located throughout Canada, the United States and Asia. My department (A virtual meeting, Aug 2020) is a well-recognized provider of such a service in the region. (Link to SKC Engineering)(Link to Applus RTD)
Applus+ Canada offers hybrid digital twins that combine simulation tools with machine learning algorithms for data-driven prediction using limited data for engineering applications, which is different from typical big data analysis. This service becomes more attractive when our engineers deal with complex processes or structures with CPU time as the bottleneck of engineering decisions. Some applications based on this approach are:
– Digital twin for active exploration of different welding scenarios. Weld engineers can immediately evaluate the distortion profile for any overlay welding pattern. This tool enables them to quickly explore any possible overlay pattern on regular smart devices and automation to recommend the best one. We help our clients to find the best weld sequence in structures comprising multiple welds. This work is a result of the innovation project DeepWeld: development of a distortion control planner for welding based on simulation and artificial intelligence, funded through the Industrial Research Assistant Program (IRAP) from the government of Canada.
– Digital twin for dynamic assessment of softening in pipeline welding. Combining finite element analysis (FEA), artificial neural network (ANN), machine learning (ML), and physical simulation, we constructed a hybrid digital twin to examine the welding’s heat-affected zone (HAZ) softening from multiple welding scenarios. This project leads to a smart computer application where users can take or upload a macro picture of a pipe cross-section with weld(s) and see an embedded Heat-Affected Zone (HAZ) softening map (i.e. Yield Strength and Hardness) around the weld in the picture. The users can define the information on welding’s heat-input and travelling speed. The government of Canada funded this project through the Industrial Research Assistant Program (IRAP).
As Canada’s premier provider of welding engineering services, we use modern high power computing methods for designer-driven optimization for Thermal, Microstructure, and Stress Weld Modeling of welded structures and related welding procedures for all levels of application. Combining these computational capabilities with our extensive practical experience, our welding engineers apply their creativity, expertise, and skill to develop innovative solutions to welding challenges.
When repairing isn’t possible, we offer Fitness-For-Service (FFS) assessment at levels 1, 2 and 3 (API 579/ASME FFS-1, BS 7910) using state-of-the-art computer modeling packages. Based on these computations, the criticality of flaws detected by our visual and non-destructive methods can be determined, and the remaining life of the component/asset is predicted under service conditions.
Innoweldive Engineering Services
Zencrack is the state-of-the-art software tool for 3D fracture mechanics simulations, including non-planar crack growth predictions for fatigue and time-dependent load conditions.. My recent work with the R&D team of Zencrack in the UK led to developing an exclusive capability of growth prediction on metallurgical notch effect in material such as in the weld fusion line. Sold License to Enbridge.
Qustom Apps was founded by Mike Shubert, whose 28 years of development and product support experience within the Abaqus and Abaqus/CAE groups at Dassault Systèmes provides the expertise required to develop high quality, easy-to-use applications within those environments. I joined shortly after the founding as the consulting and training manager to develop customized welding applications for the Abaqus computational platform. We focus on exceptional customer service, integrating cutting-edge technology into our apps, ease-of-use, and full integration within the Abaqus environment. Please visit (Our Apps) for the latest development.
Training Provider, Advanced Weld Engineering and Fracture Mechanics
In my interest and contract-based, I deliver training courses to various audiences on topics related to Computational Weld Modeling and the use of many simulation software such as VrWeld, Abaqus-AWI, QWeld, Simufact,… for solving real welding problems. I also deliver specific Fitness For Service and Fracture courses in Welded Structures using computational fracture mechanics software and concepts.
Enteknograte Corp.
(Toronto, ON, Canada) August 2012 - Present
Co-founder & Chairman
Advanced FEA, CFD, Multiphysics, and Digital Twin Where Scientific computing meets, Complicated Industrial needs. (Company Website)
Enteknograte is a virtual laboratory supporting Simulation-Based Design and Engineering with the state-of-the-art full spectrum services. Founded in 2012 with a worldwide presence. Calling upon our broad base of in-house capabilities covering strategic and technical consulting, engineering, manufacturing and analytical software development – we offer each of our clients the individual level of support they are looking for, providing transparency, time savings and cost efficiencies.
Enteknograte engineers participate in method development, advanced simulation work, software training and support. Over experiences in engineering consulting and design development enables Enteknograte’s engineering team to display strong/enormous client focus and engineering experience. The Enteknograte team supports engineering communities to leverage CFD-FEA simulation software and methodologies. It leads to creating tailored solutions, aligned with the overall product development process of Enteknograte clients.
Highlights;
- Finite Element Analysis (FEA): Crash Test, Manufacturing Processes, Acoustic & Vibration, Fracture & Damage, Multibody Dynamics.
- Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD): Aerodynamics, Hydrodynamics, Combustion, Multiphase flow, Turbomachinery.
- Multiphysic: Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI), Multi-objective Optimization.
- Industry Served: Automotive, Aerospcae, Civil, Energy, Medical Device, Materials, Shipbuilding, etc.
- Mathematical Development: CFD and FEA based Fortran, C++, Matlab and Python Programming.
Goldak Technologies Inc.
P/T while doing Ph.D., my supervisor's company (Ottawa, ON, Canada) September 2009 - April 2011
Computational Weld Modeling Analyst
Position: Computational Weld Modeling Analyst
The company is a global provider of “Computational Welding Mechanics” technology and the software package “VrWelde” developed for thermal, microstructure and stress analysis of welding and welded structures. (Link)
Highlights;
- Implemented several advanced methods and algorithms for optimization and control of the customer-defined performance on industrial scale welding problems.
- Employed many large sets of measured data to process the parts’ temporal state under welding to calibrate and adjust the model in real-time.
- Constructed several algorithms to optimize control parameters quicker than real process-time involving continuous and discontinuous design space and response surface.
- Designed and conducted 35 test-matrices, including more than 500 Computational weld mechanics tests.
- Examined the projects engaged in uncertainty analysis, sensitivity analysis, and randomness in variables on performance.
Fracture Lab, University of Ottawa
Industrial PDA with Life Prediction Technologies Incorporation (LPTi) (Ottawa, ON, Canada) May 2011 - May 2012
PDA and R&D Associate
The Material Fracture Laboratory at the University of Ottawa hosts the leading facilities in conducting projects in the field of fracture of materials, the design of damage tolerant materials, X-ray tomography, femtosecond laser machining, and material characterization (tensile machines, microscopes,…), for several applications including for welding and welded structures. I have been closely collaborating with Life prediction Technologies Incorporation (LPTi), a world-class company in delivering prognostics systems and life assessment services for turbines and other high-temperature structures. (Link)
Highlights;
- Integrated extensive computational data set from predictive models with experimental data for stochastically creep life prediction of materials.
- Constructed creep deformation mechanisms map (DMM) for high-temperature alloys including Inconel 718, Waspaloy, Inconel 901, P91 Steel, and brazing filler SAC alloy.
- Investigated creep analysis, scripted R-project code for analyzing data and constructing DMM, and setup and performed creep tests for gas turbine’s fracture analysis.
- Developed a validated model for the effect of manufacturing pre-strain on void growth and coalescence in Aluminum and extendable to other material.
SAPCO (Supplying Automotive Parts Co.)
Director of Engineering Dept. ( Tehran, Iran ) November 2002 – August 2007
Director of Engineering Dept, at Industrial & Scientific Services (ISS)
The company is a tier 1 supplier of Irankhodro OEM – the major Peugeot joint venture in the Middle-East with a 50 % market share. SAPCO supplies parts to four Peugeot production lines, one Renault production line, one Suzuki SUV production line, and design support and part supply to seven domestic-designed car brands. (Link)
Main Duties;
- Proactively supported the specific tasks and assigned works to the engineers’ team to maintain the project schedule and budget.
- Ensured technical standards, reference materials, quality procedures, metallurgical specifications, and validation activities are applied correctly to the assigned projects’ engineering jobs.
- Evaluated and audited metallurgical specifications of quality control & assurance standards, namely PSA Peugeot Citroen and TUV Rheinland, i.e. German testing & certification for auto components.
- Managed the development of engineering projects, including consulting in related projects, leading, controlling and evaluating related technical matters and preparing proposals.
- Adhered to quality procedures to ensure the smooth running of ISO/TS 16949 meets the company’s requirements of quality management systems department..
- Identified, developed and directed the implementation of Reverse Engineering methodology for automotive units and batches including Configurational Item (CI) modeling, Statistical Process Control (SPC), Design of Experiment (DOE), Design/Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA/PFMEA), Value Engineering/Analysis (VE/VA), Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), and Design for X (DFX).
- Lectured and Trained in industrial settings on topics, namely Reverse Engineering, Taguchi Method, Mistake-Proofing (or Poka-Yoke), Material Engineering and Testing, Welding Technology, and Activity-Based Costing (ABC).
Shetabkar Co.
Batch and Product Engineering ( Tehran, Iran ) September 2001 – October 2002
Reverse Engineerg Expert at the Engineering Dept.
The company is a tier 2 automotive steering systems and parts manufacturer to SAPCO. An automotive part manufacturer with well-developed production facilities and technologies, international level quality and advanced engineering capability.
Position; Batch and Product Engineering
Main Duties;
- Implemented reverse engineering methodology and developed ideas for new products and production systems , focusing on steering systems’ batch and parts.
- Researched and developed functional aspects of the steering system and design principles in the automotive concept providing design support at all stages of the design process.
- Ensured that all QA tests are carried out on time and in full and against the OEM standards.
- Maintained all quality documents, mainly SPC data, up-to-date and available to parties.
- Worked with minimal supervision or as part of a cross-functional team in analyzing material failures.
