Kirsten M. Carr, Ph.D., P.E.

Director

Dr. Carr is an engineer based in Packer Engineering’s Ann Arbor, Michigan, office.  Her areas of specialization include mechanical and manufacturing engineering, with specific expertise in electromechanical systems, logic and algorithm development, accident  investigation and reconstruction, failure analysis, durability and fatigue analysis, statistical data analysis, vehicular component and system testing, vehicle restraint systems, safety sensors and algorithms, seat systems, metal machining and cutting, manufacturing quality control, safety requirements for machine tools, manufacturing simulation, dimensional management and tolerancing technologies, engines, automatic transmissions, generators, manlifts, and wheelchair lifts

Prior to joining Packer Engineering, Dr. Carr worked in occupant safety, manufacturing research, and powertrain design at Ford Motor Company. She delivered advanced safety sensor systems for occupant detection and rollover that are on the road today using Six Sigma methods. She invented a four-point seatbelt system and magneto-rheological fluid dampers for use in seatbelt retractors and seat backs. She developed and validated simulation models of metal machining and cutting processes. She also designed algorithms to compute the dimensional accuracy of machined surfaces using three-dimensional inspection data. Dr. Carr led powertrain system and component engineers in design robustness evaluations. She has experience in failure mode prediction, analysis, and avoidance, including durability and fatigue analysis. She developed a full-day technical course and taught 1500 engineers the principles of failure mode analysis.

Dr. Carr has nine U.S. patents granted and two inventions pending. Dr.Carr is a licensed professional engineer in the State of Michigan (No. 6201054930).