ADVANCED MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIAL DOCTORATE CENTRE: ENGINEERING DOCTORATE STUDENTS COLLABORATING WITH INDUSTRY WITHIN AN ACADEMIC AND INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENT
Year: 2016
Editor: Erik Bohemia, Ahmed Kovacevic, Lyndon Buck, Christian Tollestrup, Kaare Eriksen, Nis Ovesen
Author: Evans, Dorothy
Series: E&PDE
Institution: University of Strathclyde
Section: Programmes
Page(s): 632-637
ISBN: 978-1-904670-62-9
Abstract
The University of Strathclyde (UoS) acknowledged the importance and need for an Advanced
Manufacturing Industrial Doctorate Centre (AMIDC) which is jointly supported by the University`s
department of Design Manufacture and Engineering Management (DMEM) and their industry-focused
research centre, the Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC). The Engineering Doctorate (EngD)
students work with both Industry and academia during the four year programme giving students an
unparalleled opportunity to engage with these companies in an academically accredited manner. This
presents the students with a unique learning opportunity and further adds an important element of
experience of working in the Design and Engineering industry both at the strategic high level and at
the operational day-to-day level. So far, the industrial partner companies have all been large Original
Equipment Manufacturers (OEM’s), these companies all are engaged in the design and production of
highly specified technologically complex products that are sold around the world, these companies are
in some cases world leaders in their market place. It could be argued that because of the high value
and manufacturing complexity these companies must invest in research and can see the long term
benefits in investing in the EngD programmes.
These large companies all have their own well-managed research design and engineering methods and
procedures, these methods and procedures are sometimes at variants with the EngD programmes
running within the university. It is therefore critical to match the company, the needs of their intended
research, the EngD programme as run within the university and importantly the skill set and interest
areas of the EngD students.
This paper will describe in principal the organisation and implementation of EngD programmes to suit
a variety of OEM’s and the particular management differences that have to be considered to ensure a
successful outcome for the company, the student and the university. The unique aspect of this
approach is to facilitate high-level design activity with industrial partners within a high technology
research centre located in a University. The University is offering access to state of the art complex
manufacturing technology to industrial partners when they engage in design engineering projects
through the EngD programme.
Keywords: Industrial Partners, EngD’s, Research Centre, Design and Manufacture.