Professor David Baglee

• Advanced maintenance strategies
• Total productive maintenance
• Reliability centered maintenance
• Condition monitoring techniques (thermal vibration, oil analysis)
• Risk strategies within maintenance
• FEMEA
• Design for maintenance
• Industry 4 tools and techniques
• Big Data for maintenance development
• The use of virtual and augmented reality for maintenance
• Financial stratgies for a return on investment
• Life cycle analyses

• The use of Industry 4 technologies to support maintenance
• New approaches to condition monitoring
• Big data tools and techniques for advanced manufacturing
• Nano-sensor technologies for electrical equipment
• ISO55000 standards for asset management
• Optimisation of plant and equipment using virtual reality

My current research includes:

• Condition for marine engines
• Vibration techniques large rotating equipment
• ISO 55000 asset management strategies and their role within SMEs
• Virtual reality systems for improved training and maintenance
• Reliability-centred maintenance for unique and complex assets
• Industry 4 and sensor technologies utilising big data analytics
• Utilising financial data to develop manufacturing and maintenance strategies within SMEs (Marie Curie Project)

I am also interested in developing new tools and techniques to allow assets to self-diagnose and self-heal during the manufacturing process. In addition, I am interested in what new tools and techniques are available and can be developed to support human-machine interaction for advanced maintenance.

I am keen to explore new innovative solutions to create virtual factories using the Internet of Things technologies. This would require real-time systems, wi-fi-enabled technologies, intuitive software, and digital systems of production lines and manufacturing assets.

PhD students

Student: Abdulrahman Ahmed Shaalan

Title: Development of a maintenance management strategy utilising modern maintenance systems and cost-based performance indicators for complex and large manufacturing assets

Abstract: Modern manufacturing organisations are designing, building, and operating large, complex, and often ‘one of a kind’ assets, which incorporate many different electronic, hydraulic, and mechanical systems and components. Due to this complexity, the need to react quickly to changes in production as the demand changes, and the need for more advanced strategies to ensure high maintainability and availability need to be identified. Modern maintenance strategies including Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) and Reliability Centred Maintenance (RCM) have proven successful. However, with the increase in complexity and the large number of interconnected components, the use of one single strategy may not provide the necessary detail to support a new approach to maintenance. To develop and implement an appropriate strategy a number of modern maintenance practices and supporting systems including value stream mapping need to be examined to obtain the optimum strategy. This research will examine modern maintenance strategies, in particular RCM, and suggest a new framework to support maintenance activities for complex manufacturing equipment.

Student: Ibifuro Chinomso Ihemegbulem

Title: Role of ISO 55001 in ensuring effective asset management in SMEs

Abstract: ISO55001 was released by the standards organisation late 2014 and is relatively unknown to SMEs. The complicated structure is built upon a number of existing standards. The research will build upon the very limited research into ISO550001 and how SMEs can adopt this to support an asset management strategy. The major objective of this research is to develop a framework to analyse how SMEs could use ISO55001 to effectively manage their assets that can guarantee success of their business operations.

Student: Helen Scott

Title: A user-centred model for the design of manufacturing maintenance training using Virtual and Augmented Reality

Abstract: Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies offer new ways of providing training in manufacturing maintenance. Existing applications of VR/AR in manufacturing maintenance training generally adapt traditional training methods from real-world applications for use in a virtual or augmented environment. The broad aim of this PhD is to develop an approach to maintenance training that will enhance rather than replicate current real-world approaches by utilising underpinning theory on human decision-making and learning in complex environments, including well-established behavioural change techniques and usability criteria. The PhD research will combine various cognitive behavioural models and real-world data to produce a framework of learner requirements mapped to the most appropriate techniques for optimising learning outcomes and efficiencies in a manufacturing maintenance context. The framework developed will underpin the design and development of a suite of training scenarios utilising VR and AR, to be used in experimental trials with specific end users, and the specification of a User Centred Model for the Design of Manufacturing Maintenance Training using Virtual and Augmented Reality.

Student: Adrian Morris

Title: A new approach to energy management to improve asset utilisation based upon energy consumption as an indicator of asset condition within manufacturing

Abstract: It has been established that poorly maintained equipment is likely to consume more energy than equipment in better condition (Knowles et al, 2010). However, there are a number of reasons that explain an increase in energy consumption, not least that current draw (in amps) is directly proportional to spindle torque during machine cutting cycles. Thus, a heavier-than-normal energy draw may be due to an increased duty cycle. This PhD will aim to establish a protocol for utilising a network of sensors, of which energy usage will be one, that when linked to Computer-Aided Manufacturing software and or MRP, will provide a rich picture of equipment condition. The system developed will seek to identify potential reasons behind particular sets of data and suggest possible mitigation strategies such as running at reduced speed to complete a job or ignoring for the time being to expedite an order prior to maintaining or recommending immediate shutdown. This is anticipated to reduce costs and improve productivity of manufacturing companies.

Student: Craig Fenwick

Title: The development of a maintenance strategy for the food and drink industry

Abstract: The application of an appropriate maintenance strategy is vital to ensure equipment availability, efficiency, and quality of product. When physical plant value, maintenance, labour, materials, and overheads are considered, maintenance is the largest single variable operating cost in most companies. Yet maintenance strategy development does not receive a proportionate amount of management attention. Technip Umbilical has decided that maintenance management and therefore asset utilisation strategies are key components that should be included in the number of continuous improvement initiatives currently under development at their manufacturing plant based in Newcastle. The project aims to develop a new approach to maintenance based on detailed research into the many different strategies available. From this, a set of key performance indicators (KPIs) will be developed which are aligned to the corporate strategy and the inherent resource available at Technip. This will help to create a framework from which to develop, implement, and monitor a new approach to maintenance.

• Technology and AI
• Advanced maintenance strategies
• Big data collection
• Condition-based maintenance
• Energy consumption
• Industry 4.0
• Risk and reliability
• Total Productive Maintenance
• Value Stream Mapping

I am a member of several national and international committees including the British Standards Institute (BSI): AMS/001 Asset Management Executive Committee, the International Standards Organisation (ISO) ISO/TC 251/WG 3 Communication, the ISO/TC251/WG7. ISO550111 development. Recently I became a board member of the International Society for Engineering Asset Management (ISEAM), a Fellow of the International Society for Engineering Asset Management (ISEAM), and a member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Design and Productivity executive committee. I am the deputy editor-in-chief of the Engineering Asset Management Review Series.

I am also a member of The British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT), the Society of Condition Monitoring, the International Society for Engineering Asset Management, Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, (IET), the European Network for Strategic Engineering and Asset Management, The European Academic Research and Education Network, The Advanced Maintenance, Engineering, Service and Technology Group, UK Chapter of Engineers for Australia, Member of the International Association of Engineers, The European Federation of National Maintenance Societies and Chair and founder of the North East and UK Maintenance Forum. The forums bring together industry and academia to share advanced maintenance and engineering practices and have proven very successful in creating partnerships with local and national industries to promote our academic courses and reach-out activities.

I am the co-founder of the International Conference of Maintenance Performance Measurement and Management (MPMM). This annual conference attracts over 100 delegates and was held in Sunderland in 2012. I am on the management and technical committee for several international conferences. I am on the editorial board for a number of International Journals, guest editor, and themed editor for 15 international journals. I have acted as an expert reviewer for the Horizon 2020 FOF-09-2017: Novel design and predictive maintenance technologies for increased operating life of production systems and the Framework 7 programme: GC-ICT-2013.6.7 Electro-mobility 2013.

In addition, I have worked with the University of Skövde, Sweden, in collaboration with the Swedish Knowledge Foundation, the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa, and Foundation – Flanders (Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek – Vlaanderen, FWO), to review a number of PhD proposals and national research strategies for industry and academia. I have examined a number of national and international PhD candidates and I am currently supervising six PhD students as Director of Studies within advanced maintenance strategy development. I am also an external advisor to PhD students in Sweden and Spain.

Further reading:

• Why it's time to get smart(opens in new tab)
• AMAP forum adopted across UK(opens in new tab)
• North East Maintenance Forum’s regional focus gains nationwide traction(opens in new tab)