| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/Y034759/1 |
| Title: |
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Machining, Assembly, and Digital Engineering for Manufacturing (MADE4Manufacturing) |
| Principal Investigator: |
Sims, Professor ND |
| Other Investigators: |
|
| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
|
| Project Partners: |
|
| Department: |
Mechanical Engineering |
| Organisation: |
University of Sheffield |
| Scheme: |
Centre for Doctoral Training |
| Starts: |
01 April 2025 |
Ends: |
30 September 2032 |
Value (£): |
4,152,178
|
| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Design & Testing Technology |
Manufacturing Machine & Plant |
|
| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Aerospace, Defence and Marine |
Manufacturing |
|
| Related Grants: |
|
| Panel History: |
|
|
Summary on Grant Application Form |
This CDT will train the next generation of manufacturing researchers with unique capabilities to combine predictive models and in-process data, with a systems perspective, to enable faster, more flexible, and more sustainable high value manufacturing.
The UK's growth lags behind Europe and North America [1], and the chancellor, whilst celebrating our advanced manufacturing sector, also states [2] that 'poor productivity, skills gaps, low business investment and the over-concentration of wealth in the South-East have led to uneven and lower growth'. Although digital technologies are recognised [3] as a key productivity enabler, integrating these into an advanced manufacturing environment is a significant challenge. Our CDT will address this from a systems perspective by using sensors, communications, controls and informatics technologies that are coupled to the physics underpinning complex manufacturing processes. This vision aligns strongly with the EPSRC's priorities (especially AI Digitalisation and Data); the EPSRC Made Smarter programmes, and the UK Innovation Strategy's [4] digital and manufacturing priorities.
However, embedding Digital Manufacturing into the UK economy will require people with new doctoral-level skill sets dedicated to the four productivity challenges in manufacturing:
1. sustainability - an emerging underpinning theme in our stakeholder discussions.
2. speed - reducing production lead time;
3. quality - eliminating rework whilst achieving functional performance;
4. flexibility - adaptive production systems that eliminate intrusive setup/measurement;
The CDT will train cohorts that focus on cross-disciplinary research at the interface between these productivity challenges and key Digital Engineering themes identified by our industrial co-creators: (1) mechanics, modelling, and intelligent control / optimisation of processes; (2) sensor networks and monitoring; (3) manufacturing informatics, system integration, and data security. We will focus on key manufacturing processes that are essential to the UK landscape: subtractive manufacturing (machining) and product assembly. We are uniquely placed to enable this approach: we lead the machining capability on behalf of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, collaborate on the Manufacturing Made Smarter Research Centre in Connected Factories, (with a focus on assembly automation), and through Factory 2050 we host the UK's first state of the art factory entirely dedicated to reconfigurable robotic, digitally assisted assembly and machining technologies.
We will provide a unique opportunity for students to study alongside peers with a common application focus in machining, assembly, and digital engineering for manufacturing, leveraging the world leading environment provided by the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre. This will enable the highest standards of subject-specific research training, underpinned by Sheffield's breadth of activity in engineering science. We will tailor the first year training to support their transition into the centre, and provide cohort experiences that reinforce system-level thinking and leadership skills, to ensure that our alumni's impact on society far exceeds that of a typical PhD student. Training will be undertaken individually, within a cohort, across the centre, and in combination with other centres and groups. Through this approach, we will achieve horizontal and vertical integration of the student experience within the centre and will support students in developing the specific skills required for their research. This will foster a collective culture in key training areas such as leadership, inclusion, innovation and communication, amply preparing students for their future careers.
[1] IMF, World Economic Outlook Jan 2023
[2] Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's speech at Bloomberg, 27/1/2023
[3] RAEng/IET Connecting Data Report 2015
[4] UK Innovation Strategy: Leading the future by creating it
|
|
Key Findings |
|
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
|
|
Potential use in non-academic contexts |
|
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
|
|
Impacts |
|
| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
|
| Date Materialised |
|
|
|
|
Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
|
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
|
| Project URL: |
|
| Further Information: |
|
| Organisation Website: |
http://www.shef.ac.uk |