Igor Ortiz is a R&D Project Manager for special projects at Ikergune-Inzu Group, with over 15 years of expertise in product development, computer aided engineering (CAE), computer aided manufacturing (CAM) and production facilities. He holds an MSc in Industrial Engineering from Ecole CESI (France), an MBA from the University of Barcelona. He has completed an executive program in Mergers & Acquisitions from ESADE business school. Sponsored by his company, currently he is pursuing an international PhD at the Polytechnic University of Madrid and research stays at Penn State University. Igor focuses his research on the fatigue analysis of laser-powder DED manufactured gear teeth. Igor is leading multiple programs at Penn State University’s Gear Research Institute (GRI), Center for Innovative Materials Processing through Direct Digital Deposition (CIMP-3D) and Millennium Science Complex. His experience includes automotive, turbomachinery, oil and gas and aerospace industries. Currently, he leads an advanced robot laser cell program for repairing and coating high-value parts, focusing on the automation of laser processes (laser-powder DED, hardening, peening) and developing workflows and processes for laser technology.