Dear all,

Welcome to the Lent IfM Alumni Newsletter. There are several items to cover this term including our annual Briefing Day, plans to celebrate the life and achievements of Mike Sharman, new publications, student projects and keeping in touch.

Briefing Day – Tuesday 13 May

This event introduces our latest research, practice and education programmes and provides a forum to exchange ideas and explore possible collaborations. Senior industrialist and policymakers will be able to meet IfM researchers from across the whole spectrum of manufacturing, from R&D and design to supply, production and service. For more details see here.

Later in the day, attendees have the opportunity to stay for the Kurfess Babbage Lecture. Dr Tom Kurfess was until recently Manufacturing Adviser to President Barack Obama.

The final event on a very busy day will be dinner in Churchill College for those who wish to stay on. Further details to follow in due course.

Mike Sharman

As you may have heard, Mike Sharman – the pioneering course director in manufacturing at the Engineering Department and founder of what is now ISMM – sadly passed away just before Christmas. We are keen to celebrate his life and many achievements and, in consultation with Margaret Sharman, we are planning an event here at the IfM on Saturday 27 September.

If you knew Mike and would like to celebrate his life, we would be delighted if you could attend. Please complete the online booking form here.

New report on global value networks

IfM is about to publish a new report, Capturing value from global networks: strategic approaches to configuring international production, supply and service operations. The report is based on research at the Centre for International Manufacturing. It describes a set of approaches developed by IfM researchers and put into practice with a range of leading manufacturers to help them achieve long-term, sustainable growth through the effective design and management of their global operations network. For more on the report, please visit www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/global-networks/ It will be available to purchase on Monday 14 April.

Launch of IfM Review

We are launching a new publication soon called IfM Review. It will be published twice a year and offers a glimpse of our current activities as well as a deeper look at some of our major lines of research and engagement with industry. To receive your copy, please ensure we have your current contact details. To update your details, please click here.

Keeping in touch

If you are willing to help us trace “lost sheep”, do please let us know. The current list of course members with whom we are in touch, and those who are “lost”, can be found on the IfM Alumni webpage. If you would like to update your own details, please click here.

Student projects

Our students are currently involved in projects at a range of companies across the country. For the full list of companies, and for details of opportunities for companies to become involved in the IfM's work through student projects, please click here, or alternatively contact Simon Pattinson or David Probert.

IfM News and LinkedIn

You can see the latest news from the IfM here. If you are not already a member, make sure you join the IfM LinkedIn group, and follow us on Twitter to hear the latest from the IfM.

With all good wishes,

Mike

Professor Sir Mike Gregory

Institute for Manufacturing

Alan Reece Building

University of Cambridge

17 Charles Babbage Road

Cambridge CB3 0FS

Tel:  01223 338195

Email: div-e-head@eng.cam.ac.uk