Reliability Engineering & Asset Management

Research in mechanical, aerospace and civil engineering covers six broad research themes ; aerospace engineering, innovative manufacturing, modelling and simulation, nuclear engineering, resilient systems, and structures in extreme environments.

The Professional Doctorate (DProf) Programme is a unique opportunity for practising engineers and professionals already working in industry to do applied research in the area of plant maintenance, reliability and asset management. As this is a distance learning programme, candidates can study the DProf from outside the UK while continuing their employment.

At the end of the programme, candidates will make a significant and original contribution to knowledge in general, and to their workplace specifically. The results of this research shall then be published in high standard/quality journals and finally needs to be submitted in the thesis form for the final examination.

The research project is intended to address a real plant issues in maintenance (reliability) engineering and asset management. The research outcome must be innovative work e.g. development of new method(s) in the plant maintenance and reliability engineering, novel industrial application of different methods, innovative field trials to reduce plant maintenance overhead and enhance plant reliability etc. To achieve this aim, candidates will demonstrate an ability to meet the intended learning outcomes:

To discover, interpret and communicate new knowledge through original applied industrial research in maintenance, reliability and asset management.

To produce research outputs that are publishable in high quality journals.

To present and defend research outcomes which extend the forefront of a discipline or relevant area of professional practice.

To systematically demonstrate extensive knowledge of the subject area and expertise in generic and subject/professional skills.

To independently and proactively formulate ideas and hypotheses to design, develop and implement plans by which to evaluate these.

To critically and creatively evaluate current plant issues, research and professional practice.

To develop advanced levels of interests and informed decisions about a discipline and/or professional practice.

To clearly communicate research findings and conclusions.

To make an original contribution to their chosen field.