UK: PhD Studentship

Supported by EPSRC, and Central Management Catalogue Agency, a studentship up to £17,000 p.a. for 3 years plus fees* is available

Cranfield University, in collaboration with Central Management Catalogue Agency (CMCA), the Component Obsolescence Group (COG), and liaison with the customers of CMCA, has an exciting research opportunity. The project aims to develop a simulation-based modelling approach of obsolescence impact on the equipment availability targets in outcome-based contracts in the defence industry. These contracts give a value based solution where the customer buys value in use of product or entity against the product itself.

The research focuses on electrical and electronic components, materials and software obsolescence issues in the defence aerospace sector. The main part of the project is to find out how to represent and simulate the relationship between obsolescence and equipment availability targets.

The strategic steps in achieving the objectives are:

1. Definition and understanding of the availability and performance targets.
2. Identification and prioritisation of the obsolescence issues
3. Understanding the impact of hardware and software obsolescence on availability
4. Development of a framework to model the impact of the interaction between the hardware and software obsolescence on the system availability.
5. Develop a prototype software tool to validate the framework with industrial case studies.

The project will investigate simulation methods such as Markov Reward models in modelling obsolescence, availability and the effect of software and hardware on these. Several case studies and a prototype software tool will be developed using industry standard software.

Entry Requirements
Applicants should have a First or Second Class UK honours degree, or equivalent, in a relevant discipline such manufacturing engineering.
Funding
*Supported by an EPSRC bursary and Central Management Catalogue Agency, this studentship will cover the tuition fees at the UK/EU rate only and provide a bursary of up to £17,000 p.a for three years. To be eligible for this funding applicants must have:

• no restrictions on how long you can stay in the UK, i.e. no visa restrictions or have ‘settled status’, and
• have been ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK for 3 years prior to the start of the grant and
• not been residing in the UK wholly or mainly for the purpose of full-time education. (This does not apply to UK or EU nationals).

All EU nationals are eligible to receive a fees-only award if they do not have ‘settled status’ in the UK.

All non-EU nationals are very unlikely to be eligible for this funding under the Education (Fees and Awards) Regulations 1997.

For full details about eligibility please visit: www.epsrc.ac.uk/PostgraduateTraining/StudentEligibility.htm)” href=”http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/PostgraduateTraining/StudentEligibility.htm”>http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/PostgraduateTrai…
How to apply
If you are eligible to apply for this research studentship, please complete the  Application Form, or you can request that we post one to you. Alternatively you may wish to apply online. For further information contact us today: