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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/I015698/1
Title: Industrial Doctorate Centre in Advanced Forming and Manufacture
Principal Investigator: Ion, Professor W
Other Investigators:
Corney, Professor J
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Rolls-Royce Plc (UK) Timet UK Ltd
Department: Design Manufacture and Engineering Man
Organisation: University of Strathclyde
Scheme: Centre for Doctoral Training
Starts: 01 October 2011 Ends: 30 September 2018 Value (£): 1,231,298
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Manufact. Enterprise Ops& Mgmt Manufacturing Machine & Plant
Materials Processing
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Aerospace, Defence and Marine Manufacturing
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
SummaryThis proposal is to establish an Industrial Doctorate Centre (IDC) in 'Advanced Forming and Manufacture' located in the Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC) of the University of Strathclyde. The proposed centre will bring together staff at Strathclyde with in depth expertise covering the metallurgy, forming and forging, computational simulation, micro-manufacture, automation, process control, measurement, operations management, quality control and sustainable manufacturing to create a Centre of learning and research with strong links to many of the UK's leading manufacturers. The 3000m2 AFRC will create a stimulating environment for the EngD students in a purpose built facility created specifically to support manufacturing research which makes the latest process simulation and modelling software available alongside a wide range of industrial manufacturing hardware and supporting materials and metrology laboratory facilities. This proposal aims to put the IDC at the core, of an internationally leading group in Advanced Forming and Manufacturing technology and so draw on strong links to EPSRC, EU and TSB funded research activity. To meet the interdisciplinary research demands of manufacturing industry a substantial centre bringing together all the relevant skills on a single site is essential. This requires a critical mass of staff and early stage researchers of the sort that this proposal can deliver. It is also clear from Government and other reports that a vibrant high value manufacturing industry in the UK, and elsewhere, will be limited by a severe shortage of skilled engineers unless the universities dramatically increase the scale of their activities in this area.Research at the proposed IDC will be based in the Advanced Forming Research Centre but with a wider scope covering all aspects of manufacturing technology and its application: from the forging of turbine blades in exotic alloys to the low cost fabrications of micro-components. Fundamental technology issues to be addressed by the IDC will include computational simulation, condition monitoring, control systems and tool life: the manufacturing systems issues will include analysis of performance data, demand management, whole system simulation (from warehouse to microstructure) and a design of experiments approach to process improvement. The teaching elements of the centre will be developed and delivered by the Department of Manufacturing and Engineering Management. The driver behind the activity of the IDC will be to meet the challenges arising from the rapid growth in overseas competition and the need for low energy processes and systems to meet the UK's targets for carbon emission reduction. The major themes for the proposed IDC are the following: - Forging technology - Advanced Materials - Process Improvement Micro-system Manufacture - Information Management - Operations Management - Process DesignThe total student numbers are 32 with 8 studentships supported by industry, 6 by the AFRC and 8 by the University with funding requested from EPSRC for a further 10 studentships. The planning for the proposed centre has assumed a seven year period with an initial intake of 6 rising to 10 by year four. The student numbers associated with both industry and the University will provide strong support to the EPSRC studentships requested. Thus the actual funding window of the centre will span a period of 84 months with each cohort spanning 48 months with a total cost for the centre of 3.136M of which 1.231 is requested from EPSRC.
Key Findings
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Potential use in non-academic contexts
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Summary
Date Materialised
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Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.strath.ac.uk