Dr. Baron holds a Ph.D. and Master's Degree in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Dr. Baron has been researching techniques for achieving process and dimensional control in sheet metal stamping and auto body assembly. As part of his doctoral research, he has developed new analytical methods and procedures to support the dimensional analysis and control of stamped metal assemblies.

Dr. Baron has also been researching evolving technologies in the auto industry. He has studied plants in Europe, Japan, and North America looking at body shop design and flexibility. Recently, he completed reports entitled, An Overview of Tailored Blanks and Their Technology for the Auto/Steel Partnership; and Tailor Welded Blanks Cost Guidelines.

Prior to becoming a Director at CAR, Dr. Baron was the Manager of Manufacturing Systems for the University of Michigan’s OSAT department.  Dr. Baron has also worked for Volkswagen of America in quality assurance. He has been a staff engineer and project manager at the Industrial Technology Institute in Ann Arbor and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Center for Manufacturing Productivity in Troy, New York.

While at these organizations, he managed consulting projects for over twenty different companies in applying new manufacturing technology. Several projects were concerned with manufacturing systems and economic modeling to evaluate the strategic and tactical deployment of technology.