Connectivity is studied within factories (between equipment, workers and new technologies) and between them (multi-site operation and supply chains) to build these capabilities. The research within the Institute for Manufacturing involves three research groups: DIAL, Cyber-Human Lab, and Computer-Aided Manufacturing.

Within DIAL, the research focuses on three key areas. The first is the application of low-cost technologies to aid factory operations. Two digital solutions have been created: legacy PLC monitoring for extracting data from older machines without connectivity and multi-capability tracking to help coordinate deliveries between or within a large site. The second area of focus is information sharing between sites or companies. The research has partially focused on data that could be extracted and shared between Manufacturing Execution Software. The final area of focus is automated connected and adaptive manufacturing using robotic assembly; removable end effectors and fixings are used in a robotic assembly line to enable adaptability. As part of the project, a new multi-factory demonstrator, the Variable Organisation and Operation Management (VOOM) was created for use in the research.

More information on the project's technical outputs and case studies can be seen on the project website at https://www.connectedfactories.org/

People

Prof. Duncan McFarlane

Prof. Tim Minshall

Dr. Sebastian Pattinson

Dr. Thomas Bohné

Dr. Sam Brooks

Dr. Slawomir Tadeja

Dr. Greg Hawkridge

Dr. Zhengyang Ling

Dr. Xiaohan Li

Alan Thorne

Project Partners

University of Nottingham

University of Sheffield