Heike Kitzig-Frank

Heike Kitzig-Frank serves as Deputy Head of the Competence Center for Machining, PR Officer, and Web Administrator at KSF (Institute for Advanced Manufacturing) within the Faculty of Mechanical and Medical Engineering at Furtwangen University of Applied Sciences. She holds a Dipl.-Ing. (FH) in Materials and Surface Technology from the same institution (1988-1993), completed her PhD at Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg on ductile machining of brittle materials, and passed her Habilitation in 2012. Since 2015, she has served as Deputy Director of KSF, where she was previously a research assistant from 2011-2015.

Her research focuses on grinding technology, fine machining, ceramic processing, hard metal machining, and ultrasonic grinding/dressing techniques. She has co-developed the "Grinding Expert" system, an AI-based expert system for grinding process optimization that has evolved into a self-learning platform. Her work bridges traditional manufacturing knowledge with modern digital technologies, particularly in the context of Industry 4.0 applications. She has published extensively on grinding process optimization, expert systems, and advanced machining techniques for difficult-to-machine materials.

Her recent publications demonstrate a clear trend toward integrating artificial intelligence with traditional grinding technology. The 15 most recent articles show increasing sophistication in expert systems, moving from basic knowledge representation to self-learning capabilities that adapt to specific manufacturing contexts. Her research spans multiple subfields including laser-assisted grinding, supercritical CO2 cooling for machining, electroerosion of superabrasive tools, and knowledge-based adaptive design of experiments.

• Co-development of the Grinding Expert system for grinding process planning
• Extensive publications on grinding technology and precision machining
• Research on ultrasonic-assisted grinding and dressing techniques
• Work on laser-assisted machining of hard materials
• Development of multi-structured cutting tools for difficult-to-machine materials

As PR Officer and Web Administrator for KSF, she manages the institute's external communications and digital presence. She has also contributed to technical education through publications like the formula collection for dressing and grinding technology. Her work demonstrates strong interdisciplinary expertise connecting mechanical engineering principles with computer science applications for manufacturing innovation.