 | A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. (February 2022) |
Joseph Gerber | |
|---|---|
| Born | 17 April 1924 |
| Died | 8 August 1996 (aged 72) Hartford, Connecticut, US |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute |
| Occupation | Manufacturing automation systems |
| Spouse | Sonia Kanciper Gerber (1929–2003) (m. 1954–1996) |
| Awards | National Medal of Technology (1994) |
Heinz Joseph Gerber (17 April 1924 – 8 August 1996) was an American inventor and businessman. An Austrian-born Jewish Holocaust survivor who immigrated in 1940, he pioneered computer-automated manufacturing systems for an array of industries.[1] Described as the "Thomas Edison of manufacturing", he was one of the first to recognize and develop the productivity-enhancing potential for computer automation in skill-intensive industrial sectors.[2]
His work in this field grew from his early developments of graphical-numerical computing devices, data-reduction tools, and plotters.[3]
He was awarded America's National Medal of Technology, the country's highest recognition in technology and innovation, in 1994, for his "technical leadership in the invention, development and commercialization of manufacturing automation systems for a wide variety of industries." These industries ranged from automotive, aerospace, shipbuilding, clothing, and consumer electronics, to printing, sign making, cobbling, cartography, and lens crafting, among others.
- ^ "H. Joseph Gerber, 72, Inventor in Many Industries". The New York Times. 1996-08-10. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
- ^ "Rensselaer Alumni Magazine". www.nxtbook.com. Fall 2015. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
- ^ "Guide to the Gerber Scientific Instrument Company records NMAH.AC.0929". amhistory.si.edu. Archived from the original on 2015-09-10. Retrieved 2015-11-30.