Research in this group is concentrated in three areas; the design and development of manufacturing systems, product development processes and quality systems and techniques. Although the group works closely with industry in all sectors a particular specialisation is in the design and manufacture of complex products, which are engineered to order. These high value, low volume, capital goods are subject to high levels of change and customisation in both design and manufacture and hence the group is, fundamentally, concerned with the problems of decision making under uncertainty.

The scope of our research covers manufacturing systems and technology, design and decision making processes, business processes, manufacturing planning and control and quality systems. Research is undertaken in collaboration with the Engineering Design Centre (EDC), the Newcastle Business Process Research Group, the Newcastle Quality Centre, and the Regional Centre for Innovation in Design (RCID). A major area of collaboration is with the  Industrial Statistical Research Group (ISRU), whose mission is to apply and develop tools for industry to improve the performance and reliability of products and processes.

Our group is multidisciplinary and includes research workers from China, Greece, Thailand  and mainland Europe in addition to the UK. They are supported by funds from the ORS, EPSRC, ESRC, industry and University scholarships. We welcome informal enquiries from potential applicants. We have worked with a wide range of companies including BNFL, MW-Zander,  Rolls-Royce, Siemens, VA Tech and Vickers. 

• The design, analysis and optimisation of manufacturing systems.
• Modelling of manufacturing systems
• Computer aided production management systems, manufacturing planning and control
• Integration of design, tendering manufacturing and supply networks in engineer-to-order and make-to-order companies that produce complex products.
• Business processes, their analysis and improvement
• Quality systems, process analysis and improvement, industrial problem solving

Publications        Paul Braiden, Joe Chan, Shirley Coleman, Chris Hicks, Dave Stewardson
Grants               Paul Braiden, Joe Chan, Shirley Coleman, Chris Hicks, Dave Stewardson

Research Team

The group has extensive collaborative projects with the Newcastle Engineering Design Centre, School of  Management, the Newcastle Business Process Research Group and companies.