Dr. Christopher Adams

Biography

Christopher Adams joined Carnegie Mellon University in June 2025 as the Operations Director of the Manufacturing Futures Institute at Mill 19. In this role, he focuses on ensuring that the operations of Mill 19 align with the strategic directions of the Manufacturing Futures Institute while meeting the needs of various stakeholders. Prior to joining CMU, Adams worked at the Advanced Robotics Manufacturing Institute from 2019 to 2025, where he held roles as project manager and operations manager. Throughout his career, he has collaborated closely with partners in both industry and academia to push the boundaries of robotics in multiple sectors, including aerospace, automotive, energy, and textiles. Additionally, he supported the ARM Institute’s Robotics Manufacturing Hub to accelerate the adoption of robotics and automation among small and medium manufacturers in southwestern Pennsylvania. With over ten years of experience in field service, project management, operations, and research design at Siemens Energy, he has held roles that included travel across North America, South America, and Australia to perform inspections and repairs on large turbine-generators. As a project engineer, he oversaw the execution of multi-million-dollar service contracts for power generation customers. Adams has also been integral in pioneering the use of robotics, additive manufacturing, and laser ablation in field service applications. As part of his efforts at Siemens Energy to improve defect detection in generator stator insulation, he helped develop a novel solution which resulted in Patent 9658192: 'Insulation Defect Detection High Voltage Stator Core.' He also led a co-op program at Siemens Energy’s Pittsburgh Service Center, fostering the professional development of 20 students in undergraduate studies and assisting with job placements upon graduation.

Research Interests

Experience

Patents