Erik Vanhatalo

About me

Academic Qualifications

• 2017 - Associate Professor (Reader)
  Quality Technology, LTU
• 2009 - Ph.D.
  Quality Technology, LTU
• 2007 - Licentiate of Engineering
  Quality Technology, LTU
• 2004 - Master of Science (M.Sc.)
  in Industrial Engineering and Management, LTU

CV

Research

Erik Vanhatalo's research is primarily related to statistical improvement methods such as: design of experiments (DoE) and statistical process control (SPC). These areas also include application of multivariate analysis and time series analysis. The research is directed toward developing and improving the actual methods, e.g. how to improve analysis methods. Erik's research is also focused on how these methods can be applied in industry, especially the process industry, which often presents special challenges in applying these methods. Erik's research has been published in scientific peer-reviewed journals such as Quality Engineering, Quality and Reliability Engineering International, Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, and Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems.

Below are examples of his research articles published with "open access"

Teaching

I teach courses within the area of quality technology and quality management, for example, in the courses:

• Design and Analysis of experiments
• Statistical process control and Six Sigma
• Introduction to Lean
• Quality Management, basic course
• Customer focused product development

Industry courses

Examples of courses for industry that Erik has been involved in are:

• Lean production, basic course
• Innovation management and technology development in the process industry
• Design and Analysis of Experiments

"Flipped" classroom

Erik likes to work with flipping the classrom. The link below gives an example of recorded material used in his teaching.

Design of Experiments (part 1) External link.

Honors and Awards

• ETS Pedagogical Prize
  (2020) Awarded by the Department of Business Administration, Technology and Social Sciences, LTU, for commendable teaching efforts and engagement in pedagogical development at the department.
• ETS Pedagogical Prize
  (2015) Awarded by the Department of Business Administration, Technology and Social Sciences, LTU, for commendable teaching efforts and engagement in pedagogical development at the department.
• The Søren Bisgaard Award
  (2014) Together with Peder Lundkvist awarded by the American Society for Quality (ASQ) – Statistics Division in recognition of the article “Identifying Process Dynamics through a Two-level Factorial Experiment” which appeared in the March 2014 issue of Quality Engineering.
• Best Ph.D. Thesis award at Luleå University of Technology
  (2010) For the best PhD thesis for the 2009 academic year, awarded by the Norrbotten research council in memory of Curt Boström.
• Best poster award @ ENBIS-10
  (2010) At the 10th conference for the European Network for Business and Industrial Statistics (ENBIS-10) in Antwerp, Belgium.
• Invited speaker @ 52nd FTC
  (2008) Invited to present a paper together with Prof. Bjarne Bergquist at the 52nd Annual Fall Technical Conference in Mesa, Arizona, USA.
• Best Ph.D. Student Paper Award @ the 10th QMOD conference
  (2007) Awarded at the 10th International Quality Management and Organizational Development (QMOD) Conference, Helsingborg, Sweden.
• The Adélie Prize for excellence in teaching
  (2005) Awarded by the Student Body "Geosektionen" at Luleå University of Technology.