Simulation and Optimisation of Manufacturing Processes

This project will focus on new digital approaches to improve the design and operations of factories. This project includes: (1) simulation of manufacturing processes using tools such as discrete event simulation and agent based modelling, (2) sensor fusion and machine vision for tracking assembly sequences and factory processes to update manufacturing simulation models in real-time, and (3) multi-level optimisation of manufacturing processes based on simulation models.

This project will support the technology developments and research projects carried out under the Airbus / Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) Research Chair in Digitisation for Manufacturing based at the University of Sheffield. This project will be undertaken in collaboration with Airbus UK and the internationally renowned University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) including the AMRC’s £43 million state-of-the-art ‘Factory 2050’ - the UK’s first fully reconfigurable assembly and component manufacturing research facility.

This project will require candidates to have excellent engineering and computational skills. It will be an advantage if the candidates have familiarity with sensor fusion, machine vision, discrete event simulation and/or agent based modelling.