Lane Thames has more than fifteen years experience in information technology, computer communications, and software engineering, all with a focus on cybersecurity. Over the past 10 years, he has conducted research at the intersection of cybersecurity, advanced information technologies, advanced manufacturing, and machine learning. His PhD dissertation was focused on distributed Internet cybersecurity, high-speed packet
classification, and autonomous cyber-attack detection with machine learning algorithms. Since 2011, he has investigated numerous foundational aspects of Industry 4.0 within the scope of Cloud-based Design and Manufacturing (CBDM) along with its associated cybersecurity needs and applications. Since 2013, he has been investigating cyber security for applications within the so-called Industrial Internet and the Industrial Internet of Things.
Dirk Schaefer has more than twenty years experience in computer-aided design, engineering, and manufacturing, both in industry and academia. Over the past fifteen years, he has conducted research on product modeling, variant design, product life-cycle management, design-with-manufacture integration, standardized product data exchange, and digital and virtual engineering. Since 2011 he has been spearheading research on Cloud-based Design and Manufacturing (CBDM) and Social Product Development (SPD), which are considered high-impact areas in the context of Industry 4.0 and cyber-physical product creation.
