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: Resource modelling in view of complex factory systems design
DESCRIPTION:
Previous research work in characterising resource systems (human, machine and IT) as
‘dynamic producer units’ (DPU) have enabled explicit representation of resource systems as
‘reusable’, ‘change-capable’ components of digital factories. To fully instrument the
capabilities of current and future resource systems, there is the need to semantically
characterise the capabilities and competencies of these systems so that based on their
inherent and descriptive attributes, they can be logically matched with similarly described
industrial requirements.
A PhD research opportunity exists for a highly motivated student who is interested in rapid
manufacturing systems design with key extensions to digital factory modelling. Throughout
the research, the PhD student will have opportunity to work on real industrial cases to be
able to semantically characterise existing and perceived capabilities of resource systems.
Whilst pursuing and developing new resource modelling techniques and technologies, the
student would be expected to learn and contribute also to existing knowledge on
Requirement Engineering to ensure a closed loop in the knowledge-based factory design
methodology.
The outcome of the research will help:
1) Define requirement and resource engineering modelling frameworks and
architecture for industries;
2) Extend and enable the computer execution of already existing attributes of dynamic
producer units
3) Facilitate the rapid configuration of factory design solutions
Requirements:
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Candidates must have a very good degree in one of the following fields:
Manufacturing, Mechanical, Production, Industrial, Systems, Knowledge Engineering;
Operations Management; Decision Sciences; Computer Science/Engineering.
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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.
Skills in semantic technologies (ontologies), Requirement Engineering using DOORS,
Factory simulations (Delmia, FactoryCAD, Discrete Event Simulations, Visual
Components, etc.), Programming languages (C++, Java, MATLAB, 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.