Engineering Innovative Manufacturing Research Centre Renewal
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bath
Department Name: Mechanical Engineering
Abstract
This proposal is for the renewal of the block grant for the Engineering Innovative Manufacturing Centre at the University of Bath. The Centre is unique in combining a design focus with a strong emphasis on manufacture in a closely integrated group. The context of the Centre's work is:* globally distributed design and manufacture of complex products and processes;* pressure on price, quality and timescale;* the move from test-based (physical prototypes) to simulation-based (virtual prototypes) engineering* the movement towards sustainable engineering practice. * the key importance in engineering of knowledge and information management. The Bath Engineering IMRC's mission is to develop tools, methods and knowledge, underpinned by appropriate theory and fundamental research, to support engineering enterprises in these new circumstances. In particular, the focus of the Centre is on whole life design information and knowledge management, and improving the design of machines, processes and systems.
Organisations
- University of Bath, United Kingdom (Lead Research Organisation)
- GE (General Electric Company) UK (Project Partner)
- BENDICKS MAYFAIR LTD, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Bradman Lake Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Crest Flexible Packaging Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Cooper-Avon Tyres Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- University of Sydney, Australia (Project Partner)
- Field Packaging Systems, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Processing & Packaging Machinery Associa, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Panasonic Trust, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Dept for Env Food & Rural Affairs DEFRA, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- TRW, United States (Project Partner)
- Adiuri Systems Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Clares Merchandise Handling Equipment, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Arup Group Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Eurostep Limited, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- EADS Astrium, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Vitacress Salads Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Sandiacre Packaging Machinery Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Rotary Precision Instruments UK Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Pira International Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- KorteQ, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- University of Southampton, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- University College London, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Manor Bakeries Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Morphy Richards, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- PHILIPS MEDICAL SYSTEMS NEDERLAND BV, Netherlands (Project Partner)
- Piedro Footwear, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Marden Edwards Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Galorath Affiliates Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Campden BRI, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Lynx Technic Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Ireland (Project Partner)
- Lanner Group Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Tata Steel UK, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Bobst Group UK and Ireland Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Securistyle Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Soletec Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Eimeldingen Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- ENVIRON UK Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- TUV Product Service Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Currie & Brown UK, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Hexagon Metrology Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Vanguard Software, United States (Project Partner)
- British American Tobacco Plc, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Kohler Mira Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Royal British Legion Industries, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Fiskeby Board Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Airbus, France (Project Partner)
- CPC Reading, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- National Physical Laboratory NPL, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Mayr Melnhof, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Vestas Wind Systems A/S, Denmark (Project Partner)
- Quin Systems Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Image Scan Holdings, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Welton Packaging, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Applied, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Colston Manufacturing (Engineering) Co L, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- VOSA, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Tenaris University, Argentina (Project Partner)
- Metris UK, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- L S C Group Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- IMI Vision Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Metris, Belgium (Project Partner)
- M-Real UK Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- GlaxoSmithKline, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Hanatek Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Renishaw Plc, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Balfour Beatty Plc, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Lasercomb Dies, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Colin Mear Engineering Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- GKN plc, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Ibstock brick ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Dyson Appliances Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- United Biscuits UK Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Radiodetection Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Japan Society for Promotion of Science, Japan (Project Partner)
- Delcam International plc, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Marks and Spencer, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Faro UK, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Rotork Controls Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Rolls-Royce plc, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Qinetiq Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Facade Hoists International, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Quanta Fluid Solutions, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- University of Warwick, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- UK Council for Electronic Business, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- CC Technology, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- The Welding Institute (Project Partner)
- University of Cambridge, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Ardo UK Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- BMT Defence Services Ltd, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- AMCOR Flexibles, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- ENTHEO, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Cascades Paperboard UK, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Crown Packaging Plc, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Soltec Systems, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- Zepf Technologies, United Kingdom (Project Partner)
- NIST (Nat. Inst of Standards and Technol, United States (Project Partner)
Publications


Giess M
(2008)
The generation of faceted classification schemes for use in the organisation of engineering design documents
in International Journal of Information Management

Gopsill J
(2015)
Supporting engineering design communication using a custom-built social media tool - PartBook
in Advanced Engineering Informatics

Griffiths K
(2016)
Wavelet analysis to decompose a vibration simulation signal to improve pre-distribution testing of packaging
in Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing

Howard T
(2011)
Reuse of ideas and concepts for creative stimuli in engineering design
in Journal of Engineering Design

Howard T
(2010)
The use of creative stimuli at early stages of industrial product innovation
in Research in Engineering Design


Jamshidi J
(2009)
Manufacturing and assembly automation by integrated metrology systems for aircraft wing fabrication
in Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part B: Journal of Engineering Manufacture

Jamshidi J
(2011)
Advances in Sustainable Manufacturing
Description | The Bath Innovative Design and Manufacturing Research Centre carried out research and developed a wide range of tools and methods for use in engineering design and manufacturing, especially in information and knowledge management, engineering constraint modelling, metrology (especially for large objects) and advanced machining systems. |
Exploitation Route | The Centre produced a wide range of outputs some of which have led to new technologies, others to patents, others to new methods that can be embedded into engineering processes |
Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Construction,Energy,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Transport |
URL | http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/research/centres/imrcs/previous/imrcbath/ |
Description | Computer-based models to represent the complex interaction between machines and materials during processing in packaging and pharmaceutical industries have helped firms to create new machine and tooling designs, as well as improve production practices, thereby increasing profitability and long-term competitiveness. A new method has provided a step change in the cost estimating approach used by aerospace manufacturing teams, as well as a useful tool for assessing supplier bids. Bath's proprietary constraint modelling software has been used to identify the key motion requirements for driving and guiding cartons during folding. From this information, systems and machines were designed capable of being reconfigured to handle different designs of packaging and small batch sizes. The research contributed to the development of a highly accurate production process called metrology-assisted robotic machining (fettling) to improve the fit of aircraft wing ribs. The University of Bath contribution centred around metrological planning including the calculation of the associated measurement uncertainties, and the integration of the metrology with the robotics. The research led to new tools and methods to support the improved management of personal electronic information. The work was focused on organising and sharing personal information and integrating it with existing records of product development, including electronic logbooks to support engineers over the product life cycle, integrating email within engineering information management systems and design records and improved monitoring and control of engineering projects through the analysis of the email content being exchanged. The research programme developed a new form of super-cooled machining for rubber and other flexible plastics materials. Building on the Bath's expertise in advanced machining processes and systems, the CRYMAN system works by cooling soft materials to very low temperatures - using liquid nitrogen - to achieve temporary solidity allowing milling and drilling, processes conventionally limited to solid materials like metal and wood. A tool for the automatic intelligent retrieval of ideas from an information repository, Sweeper, has been shown to provide effective stimulation in team brainstorming sessions, especially at the critical moment when idea generation flags, improving not only the quantity of the new ideas but also the quality. |
First Year Of Impact | 2011 |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Energy,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Transport |
Impact Types | Economic |