Production Engineering

With a strong focus on digital manufacturing, production engineering research is interested in additive manufacturing technology, modelling and optimisation of production systems and material removal processes.

Research focuses on developing new additive manufacturing applications for industry and for medical use. Medical applications cover a wide range of subjects, from pre-surgical planning models to special and patient-specific tools and surgical implants, and even to tissue engineering and 3D printing of living cells. Additive manufacturing technologies and other new methods of digital production offer new opportunities for supply chains and logistics.

Modelling and optimisation of production systems enable the improvement of a production system’s operations on an industrial scale. Developments in ICT and modelling software are rapid. The modelling methods are mainly mathematical programming (optimisation) as well as modelling and optimising queueing networks. The expected development of industrial internet is likely to considerably increase the potential scope and impact of this line of work in the future.

Material removal and forming processes, especially cutting processes, have traditionally played a major role in the research and teaching of the group. The current research of cutting processes mainly involves the application of the finite element method.

Personnel: Professor Jouni Partanen, Professor Esko Niemi, Professor Juhani Orkas, Adjunct Professor Kevin Otto