Design Methodologies and Life Cycle Engineering - Jobs

Profile

• M.Sc. in engineering or equivalent
• Preferably mechanical engineering or design engineering
• grade point average of at least 70%
• Fluency in English writing and speaking, good knowledge of Dutch is an asset.

Job description
About 75% of the time is available for research, while 25% of the time is spent on didactical support of the Master of Industrial Management programme of the Centre. Research activities are concentrated around one of the following topics:

• Development of innovative fasteners for self-disassembling products
  Recent EU directives on cars (ELV) and electronic equipment (WEEE) are forcing enterprises to accept full responsibility for the end-of-life treatment of their products. Consequently, it is of strategic importance for enterprises to develop solutions for economically feasible and, preferably, profitable disassembly. However, in contrast with the numerous connector solutions for fast and economic assembly, today designers do not have access to an equivalent design catalogue of fasteners suitable for quick disassembly. In this research work, an approach will be developed where a single, external trigger signal activates the simultaneous unfastening of multiple joints and, possibly, multiple products. Disassembly productivity increases by a factor 5 to 10 are envisaged.
• Lifetime optimisation
  Reuse of products and components is becoming a crucial part of many companies’ business strategies. However, due to a decreased efficiency of worn-out products as well as due to technological progress embodied in new products, lifetime extension of existing products is sometimes a bad strategy from both an economic and an environmental point of view. Previous research has shown that e.g. for refrigerators, a limited lifetime might well lead to a lower cost of ownership as well as to an overall environmental benefit. This research investigates lifetime optimisation from a number of viewpoints. First, algorithms for optimal lifetime calculation are developed. Second, the relation between product design and lifetime determination is studied. Third, strategies are developed for integrating optimal lifetime strategies into lifecycle management business concepts. In particular, the link with leasing strategies is investigated. Candidates for this vacancy should be prepared to apply for a research scholarship at the Flemish Institute for the Stimulation of Innovation Through Science and Technology (IWT). Fluency in Dutch is therefore required.
• Total Cost of Ownership
  The current trend in business contracts is such that suppliers need to take ever more responsibility about the full lifetime of their products. In particular, they need to guarantee a specified total cost of ownerships over long and uncertain time horizons. This research investigates how product developers can estimate and minimise the total cost of ownership from the early conceptual phases onwards. Candidates for this vacancy should be prepared to apply for a research scholarship at the Flemish Institute for the Stimulation of Innovation Through Science and Technology (IWT). Fluency in Dutch is therefore required.

For more information or to apply for this job offer, please contact Prof. Joost Duflou or Wim Dewulf.