Smart Manufacturing

Designed in collaboration with The Greater Birmingham & Solihull Institute of Technology this course will help you understand and develop in the growing field of smart manufacturing. Smart manufacturing is becoming increasingly important in the manufacturing industry and is considered the way forward. The factors contributing to this growth include the widespread adoption of the fourth industrial revolution, government support, complexities in supply chains, industrial automation in manufacturing, and the use of software systems that reduce time and costs in the market. If you want to stay ahead in technological advancements, this course is suitable for you.

How you will learn Learning will encompass lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical projects, and presentations. You'll hone management skills, apply engineering principles in team settings, and understand smart manufacturing project management. In addition to traditional lectures and seminars, you'll engage in practical sessions through group work, presentations, and hands-on exploration of industrial case studies.

You will also benefit from our small staff to student ratio allowing you to take advantage of a personalised approach to learning.

We're part of two EU-funded projects: RECLAIM focuses on resource-efficient manufacturing, aligning perfectly with our MSc Smart Manufacturing program. It emphasises sustainable, data-driven manufacturing, offering students a chance to explore cutting-edge sustainable production methods.

Another initiative we're involved in is H2GLASS, aiming to decarbonise the glass industry through hydrogen-based technologies. This opportunity allows you to contribute directly to the development of advanced technologies, aligning with our mission to prepare future leaders in smart manufacturing and sustainable industry practices.

What you will learn With an emphasis on practical experience, you’ll have the opportunity to design innovative and cost-effective smart manufacturing solutions using artificial intelligence techniques to solve complex manufacturing problems currently faced by the manufacturing industry such as production scheduling, equipment fault diagnostics, and predictive maintenance. You’ll undertake various lab work in advanced manufacturing process where you will explore robot software programming. In manufacturing, we use Digital Twin, a digital copy of a physical system, to enhance efficiency.

This involves simulating production processes, finding possible issues, and optimising equipment performance. Our course will teach you how to apply digital twin technology for better production scheduling, predicting equipment issues, and optimising maintenance plans. You'll get hands-on experience planning, implementing, testing, evaluating, and documenting solutions, preparing you for future career challenges.