UK Studentship at Cranfield University on Aerospace Cost Model

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Rolls-Royce & Cranfield PhD Studentship – Integrating Manufacturing Process Capabilities into Aerospace Cost Model

Application deadline:15 February 2013
Supervisor:Dr Essam Shehab
Duration of award: 3 Years

Supported by Rolls-Royce and EPSRC, a studentship with up to £17,000 p.a. for 3 years plus fees* is available

Cranfield University have a collaborative research opportunity with Rolls-Royce, which aims to analyse process capability data for developing manufacturing process cost model which take into consideration uncertainty factors.

Manufacturing process cost models are key building blocks for developing component family template cost models and whole engine cost models in Rolls-Royce. The process cost models should be generic and be driven by relevant process variables. The Research will focus on EDM (Electro Discharge Machining) which is a key process in manufacturing of film cooling holes for Turbine Blades

Working as part of a wider cost engineering research team, this research will build on a previous project, which developed an initial data collection of EDM. The overall project objectives are to:

1. Conduct a comprehensive literature to identify the type of EDM processes as utilised in aerospace component manufacturing.
2. Identify the key EDM process variables and modelling their interactions.
3. Build the process cost model from statistical analysis of historical data.
4. Identify and model uncertainty in manufacturing information.
5. Quantify the risk due to the manufacturing uncertainty through Monte-Carlo analysis.
6. Validate the developed model through case studies and experts judgment.

The successful candidate will be based between the manufacturing and materials department at the Cranfield campus and Rolls-Royce in Derby.

Technical Schools Research Students Training Programme

The successful candidate will attend Cranfield University’s Technical Schools Research Students Training Programme which is designed to equip students with research skills required during their research studies and in their future careers. This programme consists of a series of one-day events, coupled with smaller interactive group sessions.

Doctoral Training Centres

This higher research degree is associated with one of our Doctoral Training Centre, which is funded in part by the Research Councils and industry. A generic core skills training programme is provided for all research students. This is structured as a series of half day or full day events and acts as a social and networking forum to foster and develop Cranfield’s research student community.

Entry Requirements

Applicants should have a First or Second Class UK honours degree, or equivalent, in a relevant discipline such manufacturing and mechanical engineering. Strong manufacturing engineering knowledge, good interpersonal and communication skills and computer literacy are also required.

Funding

*Supported by Rolls-Royce and EPSRC, this studentship will cover the tuition fees at the UK/EU rate only and provide a bursary of up to £17,000 p.a for three years. To be eligible for this funding applicants must be:
• UK nationals or
• EU nationals resident in UK for 3 years, including full time education are eligible for tuition fees and bursary.
All EU nationals are eligible to receive a fees-only award if they do not have ‘settled status’ in the UK.

All non-EU nationals are very unlikely to be eligible for this funding under the Education (Fees and Awards) Regulations 1997.

How to apply

If you are eligible to apply for this research studentship, please complete the online application form. For further information contact us today:

School of Applied Sciences
T: +44 (0)1234 754086
E: appliedsciences@cranfield.ac.uk

Please note that we are unable to consider submissions for specific research studentships that fall outside of the stated eligibility criteria.

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Dr. Essam M. Shehab, FIET, FACostE, FHEA
Reader in Product and Service Engineering

Cranfield University, Building 50, Cranfield, Bedford MK43 0AL, UK
W: +44 (0) 1234 750 111 Ext 5241
http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/sas/aboutus/staff/shehabe.jsp