ABOUT LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY WOLFSON SCHOOL OF MECHANICAL AND MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING

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1 ABOUT LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY WOLFSON SCHOOL OF MECHANICAL AND MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING RESEARCH ASSOCIATE - 2 POSITIONS INTELLIGENT AUTOMATION SYSTEMS INTEGRATION (FIXED TERM UNTIL 31 DECEMBER 2016) REQ15693 SEPTEMBER 2015 As part of the University s ongoing commitment to redeployment, please note that this vacancy may be withdrawn at any stage of the recruitment process if a suitable redeployee is identified. JOB DESCRIPTION Job Grade: Research Grade 6 Project Description: The Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Intelligent Automation is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and supported by major aerospace companies including Rolls Royce, Airbus UK, Controls and Data Services (CDS) and the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC). The EPSRC Centre is a close collaboration between Loughborough and Cranfield Universities, and funding of 10million ensures support for approximately 30 researchers over a period of five years. The Centre has the overall aim of researching the means of automating processes that are currently considered to be very difficult to automate, and in doing so reducing product variability and quality issues that sometimes arise from human involvement. Typical examples are hand-finishing and visual inspection, assembly activities of high value and/or delicate components and certified operator processing of high integrity components. The two academic institutions of Loughborough and Cranfield bring complimentary expertise within manufacturing automation, engineering knowledge generation and management in manufacturing and human factors. The institutions have wide experience in the establishment and execution of large multi-partner, multidisciplinary initiatives in collaboration with industry. Loughborough University has a well-established national and international presence in the Mechatronics and Manufacturing Automation area of research and has been chosen to lead the Intelligent Automation (IA) theme at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) [the-mtc.org]. Professor M R Jackson is the academic leader for the MTC IA theme and the Principle Investigator and Director of this

2 EPSRC Centre. The EPSRC Centre for Intelligent Automation research team includes Prof. M R Jackson, Dr N Lohse, Dr P Kinnell, Dr L Justham, Dr M Goh. Cranfield University has a well-established national and international presence in aerospace engineering. The research area of Aero-structure Assembly and Systems Installation has become a strategic activity linked to Airbus UK, specifically to examine the equipping of wing boxes using advanced automation and human-robotic cooperating systems. Professor Phil Webb (Deputy Director of the EPSRC Centre) and Dr Sarah Fletcher lead the research team from Cranfield. This post holder will take a role in several projects that will provide working proof of concept work cells that demonstrate intelligent automation solutions to challenging manufacturing processes (e.g. inspection, validation, assembly, polishing, joining). The post holder will also work with teams investigating Manual Assembly Skill Capture, a Methodology for Intelligent Automation, Understanding Human Contribution to Process Variability, Development of a Design Tool for the Implementation of Human Collaborative Automation Work Systems and Development of a Methodology for Manual Skills Transfer to Automation. These projects are part of a wide ranging research programme that must be implemented in an integrated manner. It is crucial that the post holder possesses the necessary wide ranging experience and interpersonal skills required to integrate ideas from a broad research team activity. Job Purpose To contribute to, and enhance the research activities of the Centre and contribute to the development of research solutions in the field of intelligent automation with a particular emphasis on production of working proof of concept demonstrators. The post holder will be required to provide support to EPSRC Centre PhD students based at Loughborough University. Job Duties and Responsibilities With respect to the systems integration activity within the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Intelligent Automation: To pursue a personal research programme within the field of intelligent automation and promote that research to the wider academic community. To become part of a team of RAs and PhD students concerned with automation systems integration across both Loughborough and Cranfield Universities. To carry out designated research tasks in accordance with agreed research plans. To make presentations to the funding body, industrial partners and academia. To publish the outcomes of research in outlets of international standing. To contribute to the preparation and presentation of progress reports to funding bodies and industrial collaborators. Working as part of a project and cross-university team. Interacting with a wide range of academic and industrial partners.

3 To assist in guiding and supporting PhD students. To maintain confidentiality where appropriate and to ensure that intellectual property (IP) agreements are met. To travel to industrial and academic collaborators in the UK, Europe and elsewhere as necessary. Teaching Teaching is not the primary purpose of this post and teaching load will be small relative to the typical load of a member of academic staff in the School, but the Senior Research Associate will be expected to contribute to taught programmes and student projects, at any level, if appropriate and if requested to do so. Other Related Activities and Functions Engaging in training programmes in the University (e.g. through Staff Development) and elsewhere as required. Undertaking such other duties as may be reasonably requested and that are commensurate with the nature and grade of the post. Other All staff have a statutory responsibility to take reasonable care of themselves, others and the environment and to prevent harm by their acts or omissions. All staff are therefore required to adhere to the University s Health, Safety and Environmental Policy & Procedures. All staff should hold a duty and commitment to observing the University s Equality & Diversity policy and procedures at all times. Duties must be carried out in accordance with relevant Equality & Diversity legislation and University policies/procedures.

4 WOLFSON SCHOOL OF MECHANICAL AND MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING PERSON SPECIFICATION Job Title: Research Associate Job Grade: Research Grade 6 Education and Qualifications Essential Desirable Stage to be Assessed A good honours degree or 1 Masters (or equivalent) in robotics and automation or mechanical engineering or manufacturing engineering or other relevant discipline PhD in robotics and automation (or equivalent experience) 1 Experience Research and development experience in an academic or industrial environment Some experience in automation of manufacturing processes Experience of publication of original work in refereed academic journals and at international conferences Participation in relevant research and /or development in an academic or industrial environment Experience in automation of manufacturing processes with demonstrable research activity Experience of 3D machine vision and robotics applied to assembly of precision mechanical components 1,3 Project planning and management experience Experience of work or interaction within an industrial environment including the writing of substantial reports

5 Skills and abilities Excellent communication skills Excellent and relevant automation science or engineering skills Ability to work independently and as part of a team Self-motivated Thorough knowledge of automation systems within aerospace industry Knowledge of relevant systems engineering techniques Knowledge of industrial automation systems 1,3 ability to write substantial project reports and give presentations to leading academics and industrialists Ability to work to strict deadlines Excellent interpersonal, communication and organisational skills Ability to maintain confidentiality at all times Knowledge of relevant ethical and health and safety issues Training A willingness to undertake further training as appropriate and to adopt new procedures as and when required 1, 3 Equality and Diversity Evidence a good working knowledge of equal opportunities and understanding of diversity in the workplace 1, 3

6 Other Willingness to travel to industrial and academic collaborators sites within the UK, EU & elsewhere Clean UK driving licence 1,3 Willingness to undertake undergraduate or postgraduate related teaching support Commitment to observing the University s Equal Opportunities policy at all times Stages in assessment: 1= application form at short listing, 2= selection test i.e. presentation, in-tray exercise, data analysis 3= interview Conditions of Service This is a full time, fixed term appointment until 31 December The starting salary for this post will be on Research Grade 6, 28,695 to 37,394 per annum, at a starting salary to commensurate with experience and qualifications. There are two posts available and the post holders will be based at Loughborough University. The appointment will be subject to the University's normal Terms and Conditions of Employment for Academic and Related staff, details of which can be found at: Informal Enquiries Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to Professor Mike Jackson, Wolfson School of Mechanical, Manufacturing and Electrical Engineering, by at: M.R.Jackson@lboro.ac.uk, or by phone on 44 (01509) Applications The application closing date is 28 October Interviews will take place week commencing 2 November 2015.