Real-Time Monitoring And Optimisation Of Production Lines And Predictive Plans

Eligibility: UK/EU/International

Duration: 3 years 6 months Fixed Term

Application deadline: his opportunity will only remain open until a suitable candidate is identified - early application is therefore advised. Standard University research application closing dates apply: http://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/research-students/application-dates/

Informal enquiries are essential before application; contact Dr. Zahid Usman or Professor Weidong Li to discuss this opportunity.

Congratulations on taking your first steps toward a Research Degree with Coventry’s Faculty of Engineering, Environment and Computing. As an ambitious and innovative University, we’re investing an initial £100m into our new research strategy, ‘Excellence with Impact’ (http://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/about-research-at-coventry/). Through original approaches from world-leading experts, we’re aiming for our research to make a tangible difference to the way we live. As a research student you are an integral part of Coventry’s lively and diverse research community and contribute to our reputation for excellence. With our exceptional facilities and superb support mechanisms (http://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/research-students/research-studentships/research-studentships-the-benefits/) you are afforded every opportunity for academic success.

THE PROJECT
High-value manufacturing strives for zero-defects in quality and shorter lead-time. Manufacturing involves complex variability and uncertainty (tool wear, ambient working conditions, geometrical/dimensional deviations during production, etc.). Therefore, It is critical to develop effective models and tools to collate and analyse data from environment, machines and production systems to optimise the manufacturing output.

Supported by the Digital Engineering and Test Centre (DETC) and the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME), this project will develop a real-time monitoring and optimisation system for production lines. The project objectives are:

- To understand the state of the art through literature review and identify industrial requirements through case studies.
- To develop models for real-time monitoring of machines and production lines. Real-time data on manufacturing output and faults to be collected, aggregated onto a central virtual ‘control panel’ to understand the problem.
- To predict future system performance and impact using historical and real real-time information. To superimpose process health/performance through Discrete Event Simulations and Augmented Reality (AR)-based simulation for optimisation.
- To develop a model for autonomous control of the factors affecting machine health and product outputs in production lines
- Develop and test optimisation models for energy usage, cost, time and product quality.
- Use case studies and industrial application scenarios (provided by Unipart Powertrain Applications (UPA)) to evaluate and validate the research outputs. To perform system generalisation for other high-value manufacturing applications will be investigated.

ABOUT THE CENTRE/DEPARTMENTS
The Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME) (http://www.coventry.ac.uk/ame/) is a £32m+ collaboration between Coventry University and Unipart Manufacturing. This project is supported by the Higher Education Funding Council for England’s Catalyst Fund.

AME is has introduced and realised a bespoke ‘Faculty on the Factory Floor’ at Unipart Powertrain Applications company site in the heart of Coventry. This forms the focal point of activity and has state-of-the-art robotic automation, forming, joining, analysis and simulation, metrology and product verification technology.

SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS
Successful applicants will have:

- A minimum of a 2:1 first degree in a relevant discipline/subject area with a minimum 60% mark in the Project element or equivalent with a minimum 60% overall module average, or
- A Masters Degree in a relevant subject area will be considered as an equivalent. The Masters must have been attained with minimum overall marks at merit level (60%). In addition, the dissertation or equivalent element in the Masters must also have been attained with a minimum mark at merit level (60%).
- The potential to engage in innovative research and to complete the PhD within a prescribed period of study
- Language proficiency (IELTS overall minimum score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component).

Additionally:

- Excellent computer programming and algorithm development skills
- Manufacturing system simulation and optimisation
- Artificial intelligence and machine Learning
- System modelling and product system analysis.

ELIGIBILITY & APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Application Procedure:

Application information can be found in our how to apply section. Before completing the application please contact Dr. Zahid Usman (http://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/research-directories/researchers/dr-zahid-usman/) or Professor Weidong Li (http://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/research-directories/researchers/professor-weidong-li/) (cc'ing [Email Address Removed] when you do) for an initial informal discussion about the opportunity.

Eligibility:

All UK/EU/International students are eligible to apply that meet the academic requirements, the eligibility criteria can be found making an application page: http://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/research-students/making-an-application/