AREA: Digital Lifecycle Management
Sub-area: Digital factory modelling
Dr Kobby A Kodua, Asst Professor of Digital Manufacturing
(k.agyapong-kodua@warwick.ac.uk, Tel: +44 (0)24 7657 4259)
PhD Research topic: Model driven evolvable manufacturing systems for context-aware
production
DESCRIPTION:
As a step beyond the paradigm of reconfigurable manufacturing, next generation
manufacturing and assembly systems require higher degrees of autonomy, self-learning and
adaptation such that they can ‘evolve’ based on new product, process and resource
requirements. This requires an evolutionary research into the application of new
technologies of multi-agents, artificial intelligence, semantics, and machine self-organisation
principles.
A self-motivated PhD student is required to help define:
1) The architectural and conceptual framework for the next generation model driven
evolvable manufacturing systems.
2) Based on 1) develop models, algorithms and test the semantics of self-awareness
and adaptation;
3) Help develop prototypes which demonstrate the vision of evolvable manufacturing
systems.
Throughout the research, the PhD student will have opportunity to capture real industrial
scenarios and use them as basis for defining possible change and dynamic instances of
processes.
Requirements:
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Candidates must have a very good degree in one of the following fields: Computer
Science/Engineering, Manufacturing, Mechanical, Production, Industrial, Systems,
Knowledge Engineering; Operations Management; Decision Sciences;.
Candidates must be self-motivated, possess excellent communication skills, an ability
to work in teams and adhere to project deadlines.
The candidate is expected to develop analytical, visual and computational skills and
submit results of work for publications in academic journals. An original contribution
to knowledge in the field is expected.
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Skills in programming using multi-agent environments, semantics, C#, Java, or Visual
Basic will be beneficial. Consideration can also be given to candidates with great
interest in the subject and having an appropriate Engineering degree but without the
necessary computing skills.