Advanced Digital Manufacturing (ADM) Research Group

The Advanced Digital Manufacturing (ADM) Research Group consolidates expertises, software and equipment resources in digital and advanced manufacturing. It is aimed to provide an interface between UK manufacturing industries and the relevant applied research in Coventry University. The research focuses on the modelling, simulation and optimisation of manufacturing processes and enterprise information flows using the state-of-the-art ICT. Innovative algorithms, software prototypes and industrial case studies in the research areas are developed.

The research areas include:

Simulation and Optimisation of Advanced Manufacturing

The research pertains to the simulation and optimisation of advanced manufacturing techniques and processes, such as Rapid Manufacturing (RM), Computer Numerical Control (CNC) and Virtual Manufacturing (VM). Research topics include advanced Computer-Aided Design (CAD) techniques for RM and CNC, intelligent manufacturing planning, virtual reality applications in manufacturing, and optimisation of advanced material-based manufacturing.

Concurrent and Collaborative Product Development

The research is to exploit Internet-enabled concurrent and collaborative techniques to automate and optimise product development and manufacturing processes. The research topics cover Web and Internet-based product development collaboration and distribution, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), distributed virtual reality to support design and manufacturing, etc.

Enterprise Information Digitalisation and Management

The research is related to the digitisation of the information models of automotive, aerospace and other manufacturing enterprises. Data representations, exchange protocols and access methods in enterprises are investigated to improve information flow and management. Industrial applications and case studies to adopt ICT in UK manufacturing enterprises are developed to gain competitive advantage in the global knowledge economy.