School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering

Manufacturing is one of the key driving forces for economic development. Innovation in manufacturing is required to:

Develop new methods to manufacture advanced components

New materials and new construction methods require considerable investigation to understand the sensitivity of the process to control parameters and the integrity of the components produced by novel processes. Finite Element simulations are used to characterise both the process and the products to gain a greater understanding.

Develop more efficient processes for cheaper manufacture

The careful design of new products can lead to more efficient manufacture. The use of Artificial Intelligence to assist engineers and designers so that the features of the parts can be manufactured is the most efficient way.

Develop more efficient manufacturing systems to improve productivity

The management and scheduling of complex manufacturing facilites requires considerable effort. Current research includes investigation of the key factors influencing the performance of semiconductor manufacturing through the use of Discrete Event Simulation.

Sample research projects of the School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering in this area include:

• Hybrid AI/Simulation techniques for Optimisation of Manufacturing
  
  
• Optimisation of Semiconductor Manufacturing Using Simulation
  
  
• Assessment of the Impact of Bottlenecks and Variable Demand on the Design of Efficient Lean Production Control Strategies
  
  
• Supply Chain Optimisation for Test Wafers in Semiconductor Manufacturing
  
  
• Flow visualisation studies of Pharmaceutical and Semi-conductor pipe tees with various isolation valves fitted
  
  

The two other main areas of research identified by the school as strategic research themes are Biomedical Engineering and Sustainable Technology.