Summer 2015 Newsletter
Dear All,
Lots of exciting stuff going on here at the IfM and also with you I trust.
As you may know, a number of us are rapidly approaching our sell-by date and I am delighted to announce that Professor Andy Neely has been appointed as Professor of Manufacturing Engineering and Head of Division E (including IfM) with effect from 1 October 2015.
Many of you may remember Andy from his early years at IfM back in the 1990s. He has done an excellent job with the Cambridge Service Alliance which he set up in 2008 and he returned to us full-time some three years ago to take up the Royal Academy of Engineering Professorship. He brings to bear a wide range of expertise and experience nationally and internationally as well as a deep understanding of IfM. We can look forward to continued growth and progress under his stewardship.
We would be delighted to have a good turnout of MET alums at the annual lunch on 26 September. There will be an opportunity to meet Andy and to provide input to future planning should you wish. Do come along if you can - details will be available shortly.
In the meantime, there are several events which you might find interesting including a number of major conferences such as the annual Cambridge International Manufacturing Symposium and Cambridge Service Week, and of course coffee and cakes every Friday morning if you are nearby.
Please use this form to update your contact details and send the link to any other former classmates who you think may be interested in hearing from us.
With all good wishes
Mike Gregory
Head, Institute for Manufacturing
Getting creative in the kitchen Richard Joseph took the postgraduate course Advanced Course in Design, Manufacture and Management (ACDMM, now Industrial Systems, Manufacture and Management, or ISMM) at the IfM in 1998. In 2003 he set up Joseph Joseph, the innovative kitchenware company, with his twin brother Anthony. It now has a turnover of £40 million, sells its products in 104 countries and has 80 employees. Read more |
New tool to help with Innovation and Technology Management assessement A new approach has been developed at the IfM to help companies assess how good they are at managing innovation and new technologies. A range of options is available, from a free online survey to a full organisational assessment, supported by experienced industrial practitioners from IfM ECS. Read more |
New UK-India project investigates impact of food processing on supply chain sustainability The Centre for International Manufacturing has secured a new UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI) grant for a research project titled: ‘Exploring impact of food processing on the sustainability of food supply chains – a UK-India bilateral analysis’. The project will be conducted in collaboration with ABV-Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management external link (ABV-IIITM), Gwalior, India. Read more |
IfM video series We have recently launched a series of short videos of IfM experts addressing different topics. Visit our video section or click on the links below to watch the videos: The 3D printing 'revolution': what's behind the hype? Tim Minshall What is the future of servitization? - Andy Neely Sustainable business models: what are they and why are they important? Doroteya Vladimirova Supply network risk and resilience - Mukesh Kumar |
Alumnus helps revolutionise high street banking with mobile innovation Over a decade ago Phil Sorrell, who graduated in 1981, the second year of what is now the MET Tripos, set up FE-Mobile and with colleagues created the world’s first highly secure downloadable mobile banking platform, a solution that is now being used by millions around the world. |
IfM leads UK-US workshop on manufacturing and innovation policy In March, the IfM held a workshop at the White House in Washington, D.C., where UK and US government agency representatives and academics compared approaches to the development of advanced manufacturing institutes. The aim of this workshop was for participants to share expertise, experiences and best practices and learn from one another. |
IfM project will define research agenda for 3D printing-enabled re-distributed manufacturing The Bit by Bit research team has launched a new two-year project titled: Defining the research agenda for 3D printing-enabled re-distributed manufacturing (3DP-RDM). The aim is to explore the interrelationships between 3D printing/additive manufacturing and re-distributed manufacturing. Read more |
Working with mid-size manufacturing and technology companies IfM Education and Consultancy Services (IfM ECS) has issued a document detailing how it can help mid-size manufacturing and technology companies: ‘Achieving Sustainable Growth: Helping ambitious manufacturing and technology companies realise their ambitions’. Read more |
Communicating Technology Intelligence – practice guide The Centre for Technology Management has issued a new Practice Guide, authored by Letizia Mortara, which examines some of the barriers to effective Technology Intelligence communication. The guide explores the ways in which intelligence can be better communicated and hence transferred to decision-makers. Download here |
Upcoming events
Wednesday 10 to Thursday 11 June
Two-day workshop giving a thorough introduction to strategic roadmapping, guiding participants through each step of the roadmapping process.
EPSRC Manufacturing the Future Conference
Thursday 17 to Friday 18 September
Churchill College, Cambridge
The 4th Manufacturing the Future Conference presents the latest manufacturing research delivered by the academic community in collaboration with UK industry.
The Cambridge Tribology Course: Friction, Wear and Lubrication
Monday 21 to Wednesday 23 September
Intensive three-day programme offering an excellent opportunity to gain an overview of the field of tribology.
International Manufacturing - revisited
Embracing new technologies, capabilities and markets
Thursday 24 to Friday 25 September
The annual Cambridge International Manufacturing Symposium is the chance to hear from world-leading business figures and thinkers on the challenges facing modern manufacturing. It is a unique event that brings together senior industrialists and leading academics to share approaches and experiences in this strategic domain.
'Creating Value Through Customer Services' - Industry Day Conference
Tuesday 6 October
The event will provide unique insights from leading service providers and academic institutions and offers a valuable opportunity to hear the latest developments in service thinking.