Nanyang Polytechnic to collaborate with Cranfield University on manufacturing tech

Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP), Singapore and UK's Cranfield University (CU) have entered into a strategic collaboration to develop advanced information and communication technologies (ICT) that will be needed to design and operate factories of the future. The partnership will also support the development of related talent.

Under the collaboration, both organisations will develop mutual capabilities in areas such as digital manufacturing, cyber-secure manufacturing and advanced informatics for autonomous manufacturing. These areas enable intelligent and flexible production on the shopfloor and facilitate shopfloor-to-topfloor (Editor's note: from the manufacturing area to top management) integration across the supply chain, in both physical and cyber realms, for improved product quality, productivity and profitability. Proficiency in these fields will set the graduates of the two organisations apart in a globalised, highly competitive manufacturing sector.

NYP and CU will also undertake joint research and development (R&D) projects and staff and student exchanges for a three-year period. The MOU follows a recent collaborative research project between Professor Ashutosh Tiwari, Professor of Manufacturing Informatics at CU and Dr Vinayak Prabhu, Manager and Senior Lecturer of Digital Manufacturing at NYP on the digitisation of complex manufacturing processes using low-cost technologies from the world of gaming.

“Through this collaboration, our students can benefit from being exposed to the latest digital technologies in the manufacturing industry as well as learn life skills from working alongside world-class faculty and students at Cranfield University,” said Lee Youn Kay, Director, School of Engineering, Nanyang Polytechnic.

“Our institutions have many common interests of great relevance to the future of manufacturing and we look forward to collaborating with NYP in several exciting areas of technology,” said Professor Philip John, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, School of Aerospace Transport and Manufacturing, Cranfield University.

Source: Nanyang Polytechnic. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed by Lee Youn Kay, Director, School of Engineering, NYP (left), and Professor Philip John, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, School of Aerospace Transport and Manufacturing, CU in September 2016.