B.S., Industrial Engineering and Management, North Dakota State University, Fargo, 1981

M.S., Industrial Engineering and Management, North Dakota State University, Fargo, 1982

Ph.D., Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo, 1989

Reza Maleki has 37+ years of professional experience; which includes serving in four universities in the United States and working as a consultant with diverse manufacturing companies in Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Kentucky.

Starting fall semester 2022 Reza Maleki returned to North Dakota State University (NDSU) from Impact Dakota, an affiliate of National Institute of Standards and Technology where he served as a Senior Business Advisor.  The major focus of his work was on development and delivery of high value services to client companies.  This included interacting with clients to assist them in assessing and discovering operational needs and solutions, design and delivery of training materials, and providing consulting services to foster their continuous improvement activities.

Prior to joining Impact Dakota, Reza Maleki served as the Enterprise Scholar Faculty at NDSU’s Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Department teaching and coordinating more than 80 multi-disciplinary industry projects  The highlight of his work at North Dakota State University was his dedication to developing students’ talent as a mentor and advisor.  He facilitated student learning through effective teamwork and project management skills addressing clients’ needs.

Prior to joining NDSU, Reza Maleki served at South Dakota State University as Professor and Head in the Department of Engineering Technology and Management and the Director of the Polytechnic Center of Excellence.  He was the key figure in developing the proposal to establish the Center which had its focus and core activities on applied research, enhancing cooperation with industry, streamlining existing programs, and creating a number of new and unique campus-wide multi-disciplinary programs.

Reza Maleki’s academic experience also includes serving as the Lead Professor of Production/Operations Management at the University of Wisconsin-Stout where he taught courses in support of technology, manufacturing engineering, and business programs.  Reza Maleki’s academic career started at Minnesota State University - Moorhead where he served for 11 years as a Professor and Coordinator of Industrial Management.

During his academic work, as a PI and Co-PI, Reza Maleki was instrumental in securing of two $600,000 NSF (National Science Foundation) grants and was successful in authoring and receiving of a $640,000 FIPSE (Funds for Improving Post-Secondary Education) grant from the U.S. Department of Education.  He was a major contributor to multiple projects for a $4.2 million renovation of a building at South Dakota State University’s Polytechnic Center of Excellence.

In addition to consulting, Reza Maleki’s experience with manufacturing companies includes serving on the Board of Directors of an electronics company, working as the Director of Allied Manufacturing Center, and Technology Transfer Director.  He has been involved in a number of civic and professional organizations which included serving as the President of Minn‐Dak Manufacturers Association and the local chapter of Society of Manufacturing Engineers.  He uses every opportunity available to visit different companies. Since the start of his professional career, he has made more than 1,100 plant visits to approximately 400 companies.

Reza Maleki’s international experience include serving as a visiting professor of operations and project management at Kazakh British Technical University in Almaty, Kazakhstan.  He has made presentations in Brazil, Korea, and Vietnam.  He has conducted workshops in Iran and most recently in Mexico where he was invited as an Academic Leader to present to faculty in two universities and to members of business and industry leaders.

Reza Maleki is a registered professional engineer, certified manufacturing manager, academic associate of Avraham Y. Goldratt Institute, and Lean Bronze Certified Practitioner.  He has also completed the requirements for and received certification in Lean Leadership.  Included in Reza’s publications is the book, “Flexible Manufacturing Systems‐the Technology and Management”; published by Prentice‐Hall.  Prior to North Dakota State University, Reza Maleki attended Casper College in Casper, Wyoming where in 2021 he was recognized as one of the 25 exemplary alumni during the College’s 75th anniversary.