Postgraduate and Undergraduate Projects
PhD Projects | Masters Projects | Undergraduate Projects | Prospective Students
PhD Projects
Ongoing Projects
1.A decision support tool for integrating renewable energy into factories
Renewable energy, such as wind and solar, has received great deal of attention because of the high environmental impacts of fossil fuels and their high price. Industry sectors have a considerably a high share on energy consumption. However, the availability of the renewable energies is influenced by different factors, such as local weather condition. This research aims to create a decision support tool for integrating the renewable energy into factories so that ensures low unit energy cost and environment footprint.
2.Absolute sustainability and product design
3.Design of Cellular Structures and Resource Efficiency
Decreasing the utilisation of material, energy and manufacturing time while optimising the strength of manufactured parts are increasingly important goals that need to be met in order to achieve greater manufacturing process efficiency. This research aims to achieve the aforementioned goals through the utilisation of lattice structures, biomimetic attempts to replicate naturally occurring structures. Research will be conducted to create a methodology that aids in the selection and optimisation of ideal lattice structures for a given use, based on functional requirements. .
4.Develop a big data based generic methodology to address challenges of manufacturing big data in order to meet the requirements of Smart manufacturing
Previous Projects
2018
1.Conceptual design of Complex engineering systems
Design of complex engineering systems is complex because of the scale and multi-disciplinary essence of their design knowledge. Hence, this thesis proposes a modelling framework to support conceptual design of aforementioned systems. The framework should enable analyzing the alternatives by application of its models and algorithms which can significantly support decision making in conceptual design stage.
Contact: Shiva Abdoli
Supervisor: Prof S. Kara
2.Material Efficiency on Critical Engineering Materials
Focusing on a worldwide issue on meeting our booming needs of materials without posing a threat on resource supply, ecological environment and human well-being, this research aims at building a generic methodology to discover which kinds of engineering materials will become crucial and the dynamic mechanism behind this trend under the consideration on stakeholders’ options. Among this, as a key measure, material efficiency (using less of a material to make a product or supply a service), together with energy efficiency, will be assessed to support the future material needs sustainably.
3.Partial shipment for supply chain management
In business sectors like the pharmaceutical industry fast customer order deliveries can be crucial both for the businesses’ and the customers’ viability. To accomplish this, finished products need to be stocked close to the customers at the expense of higher inventory holding and obsolescence costs in the distribution centres. This thesis, proposes an approach that could enable cross-docking despite rigid delivery lead time constraints is the “partial shipment strategy”.
Contact: Georg Bienert
Supervisor: Prof S. Kara
2017
1. Exergy Analysis and Energy Rating of Factories
Energy rating is measuring and benchmarking energy efficiency or performance which is very important to lead and devise firm’s action. It helps in gaining competitiveness and on the other hand reducing environmental impact causes by energy consumption. Due to the complexity and diversity of the manufacturing systems, there is no such method for measuring and benchmarking energy efficiency of a factory that can essentially help lead and devise action for a factory. This research intends to develop, test and validate a rating method through development of generalized model for factories. Theoretical and mathematical approaches are employed in the investigation.
2. Development of Environmental Value Stream Model for Assessing Sustainability in Manufacturing
In today’s globalized marketplace, increasing commodity prices and alarming rate of industrial pollutions are bringing more dimensions to the challenges Manufacturing has already been facing. Simultaneous improvement of environmental and economic dimensions for these companies require holistic system approach. An insight into identifying where and when the largest sources of waste occur within the multi-product, multi-machine manufacturing system is vital. This project aims at developing an integrated simulation and optimisation tool, for evaluation and improvement of the performance of the manufacturing companies on cost, lead time, throughput and environmental footprint.
3. Learning and Reasoning in the Robotic Disassembly of EOL Electronics
This research applies artificial intelligence and robotics to the disassembly of end-of-life products, with the aim of increasing the flexibility of automated disassembly to different product variants, and eventually developing a robotic system feasible for the recycling and remanufacturing industry. In 2013, a dissertation was completed which demonstrated the flexibility to disassemble LCD screens without specific model information, using (semi-)destructive methods and with the aid of human demonstrations. The system learned the specific demonstrated steps relevant to each model. Current work on this project aims to implement less destructive techniques, in order that select components may be removed without damage. The feasibility of learning disassembly strategies that generalise between models is also being investigated.
2016
1. Energy and Resource Efficiency in Manufacturing Systems
Over the past decades, the issue of energy efficiency has become a matter of concern in manufacturing system due to the increased energy costs and the associated environmental footprints. To improve the energy efficiency of the systems, it is important to forecast energy requirement of the system considering production parameters variations. In this research, a generic model is developed to simulate energy requirement of the plant considering hierarchical structure of different energy consumers. In addition, an optimization engine is introduced and integrated with simulation model in order to optimize the performance of the system from both economic and environmental perspectives.
2. Energy and Resource Efficiency in Manufacturing Systems
Over the past decades, the issue of energy efficiency has become a matter of concern in manufacturing system due to the increased energy costs and the associated environmental footprints. To improve the energy efficiency of the systems, it is important to forecast energy requirement of the system considering production parameters variations. In this research, a generic model is developed to simulate energy requirement of the plant considering hierarchical structure of different energy consumers. In addition, an optimization engine is introduced and integrated with simulation model in order to optimize the performance of the system from both economic and environmental perspectives.
2015
1. Dynamic Optimisation of Enterprise Value Streams
Manufacturing organisations must routinely deliver efficiencies in order to compete, but their ability to realise a sustainable competitive advantage from these improvements is hampered by the lack of objective approaches for targetting their improvement efforts. In what is something of a paradox, otherwise highly structured methodologies, such as Six Sigma, give little or no guidance on project selection and instead rely on subjective approaches such as managerial experience. The result is lost opportunities; inefficient allocation of scarce resources and a sub-optimisation of the system as a whole. This research sets out to create more rigourous approaches to the problem of optimisation at a site and enterprise level.
2. Energy Monitoring and Smart Grid Application in Manufacturing
To empower manufacturing industries by application of on-site energy generation systems, this study aims to develop comprehensive methodologies for optimal system design and its real-time operation management. Multiple integrated options in addition to fluctuating nature of energy supply and demand, would raise requirement for a dynamic optimisation which can be applied in real-time. The later should guarantee autonomous, reliable and optimal operation of the on-site energy generation systems for any manufacturing plant.
2014
1. Sustainability Assessment of International Outsourcing in Manufacturing
International outsourcing has become a competitive strategy in manufacturing industries due to the issue of limited resources and associated economic benefits. Although international outsourcing seems to be a cost efficient way of production, the concerns about its impacts on the sustainability of societies are rising significantly. In order to have sustainable societies, the industrial managers need to control and quantify the static and dynamic social, economic and environmental impacts of their international outsourcing decisions. Nevertheless, there is a gap in the literature for quantifying these social, economic, and environmental impacts. Therefore, the objective of this study is to present a decision support tool for quantifying the explained impacts. In this research, the number of employees in the industries, gross value added and CO2 emissions were selected as the social, economic and environmental indicators at the macro level respectively.
2. Heat and Mass Transfer Simulation of a Steam Sterilisation Process in an Industrial Autoclave
Thermal processing is crucial in the pharmaceutical manufacturing and the food processing industries in ensuring that products are produced to stringent quality guidelines and regulations. At the same time, thermal processing on a commercial scale consumes an enormous amount of energy. This research aims to develop a numerical model of the heat and mass transfer phenomena within a steam sterilisation process. The model will first be validated with experimental measurements and then used to simulate the sterilisation process with varying equipment and process parameters in order to identify opportunities for reducing energy consumption without any compromise to product quality.
3. Development of environmentally sustainable supply chain networks
This research aims at developing a generic simulation model based on strategic decision support system for selecting the best-fitted suppliers and the best-fitted facility locations in global supply chain networks. The system is modeled by adopting fuzzy goal programming with Pareto-optimality on the basis of multiple quantitative objectives in order to simultaneously minimize overall cost, lead time, and environmental impact under stochastic and fuzzy situations.
4. Economic and environmental evaluation of Product Life Cycle Design
This research developed a new design assessment method to improve product life cycle design. The design method addresses the shortcoming of current LCA practice in using single functional unit definition by considering a range of functionality for new product technologies. In addition, the impact of increasing volume due to growing market demand is considered to identify the necessary design improvement at product level. By incorporating Standard Logistics Function, a predictive analysis of future environmental impact is performed to reach a more environmentally sustainable development.
2013
1. Application of Cognitive Robotics in Disassembly of Products
This research aims to study the possibility of using cognitive robotics in order to develop economically feasible automated disassembly cell that is able to disassemble every previously unseen model of products. The system is expected to be flexible enough to disassemble a variety of models of product in one product group regardless of exact information regarding the structure and geometrical model. The cognitive robotic agent is expected to be a high-level planner for generating proper disassembly sequence plans (DSP) and control the disassembly operations in task level. In order to handle a number of uncertainties in the disassembly process, the system’s behavior is influenced by 4 typical cognitive functions, including reasoning, execution monitoring, revising, and learning. Typically, the vision-based disassembly cell with a 6-DOF manipulator will be developed and used in this experiment. LCD screen monitors will be used as a case study in this research.
2012
1. Energy and Eco-efficiency
of Material Removal Processes
The overall objective of this project is to develop reliable methods
of predicting energy consumption and the associated environmental
impact of manufacturing processes. The methodology will be based on
empirical models developed through measuring energy consumption during
a specific manufacturing process. Initially material removal processes
e.g. milling, turning, grinding, will be targeted for developing the
methodology. After proving the principle, the methodology will
extended to cover other manufacturing processes.
2. A Decision Making Model for Employing Product Service System in Industry
Sustainable production and consumption are an issue of current international
concern. Recently, the concept of Product Service System (PSS) is proposed
as a driver to transform industry structure to the one that does not reduce
the Earth’s resource. Although many papers show the progress in this field,
very little has been done attempting to assess impacts of PSS. This research
aims at assessing the environmental and economic impacts associated with
the entire product life cycle of the industrial products in this new business
model. Comprehensive model will be developed to provide the decision makers
to evaluate the sustainability and profitability of industrial products
with a sound analysis of the chances of the company to achieve the defined
goal of successfully introducing a PSS.
2008
1. Multidimensional Requirement Analysis for Sustainable Product Development
This research’s objective is to develop a systematical integrated method
for balancing the four key requirements, which are Life Cycle Cost, Quality,
Product Lead Time, and Environmental Impacts simultaneously in the conceptual
design stage. This method can be used to help industries make decisions
with limited data in the early product design stage.
2. Reuse or Recycling of Industrial Products - A Technical & Economic
Model for Decision Support
Considering the superior benefits of re-use and the impediments for its
implementation, this research is devoted to investigate the economic and
technical viability of reuse by addressing manufacturer and customer sides.
The main concern is on how to make reuse works and reasonably benefits
all stakeholders; producers, customers, and society. Comprehensive models,
which include economic, technical and environmental aspects, will be developed
to provide a guideline for decision-making processes to evaluate the reusability
of industrial products. As important feedback from the models, at the
end this research will also reveal design strategies for reuse.
3. Modelling of Product Collection Networks: Reverse Logistics
The enactment of extended producers' responsibility requires producers
to be responsible for the whole life cycle of a product. Reverse logistic
has become an indispensable part of this process, where products are collected
from end-users, reprocessed and returned to the manufacturing line and
to the customers. In this project, the logistic network is mapped and
simulated in order to find the efficient and effective way to manage reverse
logistic. The simulation is also expected to be able to forecast the possible
problems and how the logistic activities will impact the environment.
4. Lifetime Modelling of Products for Reuse: Physical & Technological
Life Perspective
Reuse of products and their components can be an economically and environmentally
superior alternative to material recycling or other End-of-Life options.
One of the main obstacles in implementing a reuse strategy is the lack
of reliable methods to assess reliability of used parts, which should
take the physical and technology life into account. This project aims
at developing a lifetime simulation model to predict the remaining life
of components for reuse based on the integrated lifetime perspective.
The project outcomes provides a useful tool for preliminary estimating
the remaining life of product and components without time consuming disassembly
and testing operations.
2007
1. Economic Evaluation: Environmental Impact of Industrial Products
Although, there is extensive research in the areas of Life Cycle Assessment
(LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) approaches, and the integration between
these approaches, the estimation of the financial value is mainly considered
as an internal cost. Current approaches usually ignore the external or
non-marketed cost, which is currently paid by the society at large. Therefore,
the evaluation of external costs associated with the environmental impact
of the industrial products still remains as an uncertainty in these analyses.
Thus, this research is aimed at assessing the environmental impact cost
of industrial products. The evaluation of external costs associated with
the environmental impact of the industrial products will be considered
using the integration of the Simplified LCA assessment, LCC and Economic
valuation approaches. Such analysis will facilitate the true assessment
of environmental cost of industrial products during their life cycle.
2006
1. Lifetime Monitoring of Appliances for Reuse
This project aims at determining the remaining useful life of products/appliances
on the basis of data collected during their operating life. This will
be relatively a new approach towards environmentally safe manufacturing.
To date, recycling in which the products are converted into low grade
raw materials for next generation of products, is considered to be more
economical form of disposal. However, the proposed research would focus
on the reuse potential of these products which is obviously a more realistic
approach.
2004
1. Environmental Assessment of Industrial Products
This study will develop a full methodology for designers to take product
environmental performance into account at the early design stage. A simplified
LCA assessment approach will be developed to generate the product's Environmental
Performance Indicator (EPI), which is the assessment of the environmental
impacts associated with the entire product life cycle. The EPI will then
be used in a generic decision model to assess the product environmental
performance together with other design objectives.
2. Waste Impact Assessment of Manufacturing Processes for Product Design
Evaluations
3. Planning for sustainability through cleaner production
This project aims to accelerate the evolution of Cleaner Production within
manufacturing enterprises. The focus of the project is to invent a planning
and implementation framework, "top-down" - from the boardroom
to the shop floor, as a seamless process capable fast tracking the uptake
of industrial environmental management practices. The project brings together
a range of manufacturing management, engineering, scientific and environmental
management disciplines in an attempt to reduce complexities and to standardise
concepts.
Sustainability, Eco-efficiency, Cleaner Production, Industrial Ecology,
Life Cycle Management, a Toolkit for hard and soft technology point solutions
and Performance Indicators are defined, developed and integrated as the
one strategic process.
2002
1. Design for Environment at the Functional Level
of Product Design
Contact: Francis Francis
1999
1. Planning for Disassembly
Contact: Ben O'Shea (CRC)
2. Environmentally Sound Production Systems
Contact: Virginia Soriano
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Masters Projects
2006
1. The Effects of Reuse and Recycling on the Eco-Efficiency
of Industrial Production.
Project Description: This project aims at evaluating the
environmental impact (EI) reduction which benefits from reuse and recycling
on industrial production level. By reuse and recycling, the environmental
impact reduction on products level will be gained via the LCA method.
But the relationship of EI between products and production level is non-linear,
thus based on the global industrial production statistics, an upscaling
model needs to be established to assess the EI for production level, so
that the improvement of Eco-Efficiency can be obtained.
Student: Aries Hui (Master
by research student)
Supervisor: Prof
H. Kaebernick
2. Clustering of Industrial Product for reuse
3. Selective Disassembly for Re-use of Industrial
Products
1999
1. Re-use and Recycling of Consumer Products (ME
project)
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Undergraduate Projects
2012
1. UNSW water footprint assessment
As the population of the world continues to increase, the negative impacts of unsustainable freshwater consumption is becoming a greater concern. A life cycle assessment can be performed using water footprints to determine the negative impacts of freshwater consumption on human health, the ecosystem and fossil reserves. However, water footprint LCA is currently in the early stages of development and no internationally recognised standards exist. Some methods of water footprint assessment will be analysed, and a method for water footprint LCA will be selected based on its suitability for use as part of a case study at the Mechanical Engineering Building.
Student: Brandon Chan
Supervisor: Dr. S. Ibbotson (Manmek)
Co-Supervisor: Prof S. Kara
2011
1. Recycling of lithium-ion batteries for electric cars
Lithium-ion batteries are the preferred energy source for hybrid and electric cars. It is expected that the usage of these batteries will increase dramatically in the near future with the increased usage of electric cars, hence end-of-life batteries returned. There is currently no established disassembly and recycling technology which will enable high material return efficiency. The aim of this project is to develop viable disassembly and recycling methodologies for end-of-life lithium-ion batteries, which will make lithium-ion battery recycling more efficient.
2. Development of a model to estimate the minimum thermal energy required in manufacturing processes
Increasing energy costs have forced manufacturing companies to re-assess their attitude towards categorising energy costs as overheads. I will develop a model to analyse current manufacturing processes to improve its thermal energy efficiency. The results will indicate areas for improvement in Baxter's manufacturing processes.
2003
1. Modeling of Product Collection Networks
2. Lifetime Modelling of the Industrial Product
2002
1. Life-time Monitoring of Appliances
Student: Robin Wong
2. IDEF3 Modelling of Product Collection Networks
Student: Lydia Supratman
3. IDEF0 Modelling for Sustainable Business Development
Student: Sabina Silvestro
4. Disassembly Planning of a Washing Machine
Student: Sim Wee Leng
5. Design for Environment (DFE) Analysis of a Household Appliance
Student: Jenny Hoya
6. Critical Design Parameters for Condition Monitoring
Student: Ka Yan Ip
2001
1. Reusability Assessment for Technical Products
Student: Netty Sari
2. Material Recycling - A Costing Approach for Technical Products
Student: Irsan Chandra
3. Application of a Design Structure System DSS for Disassembly Analysis
Student: Indra Sanjaya Hareguna
4. Disassembly Planning of a Washing Machine
Student: Cheng Sen Seow
5. Recycling of TV Tubes (MRI)
Student: Chris Ho
2000 and before
1. Survey on Design for Environment Practices in Product Development in Australia
Student: Timothy Edmondson
2. Survey on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Methodologies with Particular Emphasize on Product Design
Student: Arwin Sutanto
3. Recycling of Electronic Goods in Australia and Germany - A Case Study and Comparison
Student: Adam Evans
4. Product Design with Recycled Materials, Considerations of Performance Constraints
Student: Yen-Chen Liu
5. Methodologies for Life Cycle Assessment of Industrial Products
Student: Ting Fa Huang
6. Material Selection Aspects in Design for Environment
Student: Srinivas Padavola
7. Application of DFE Principles in Material Selection for Water System Piping
Student: Thursina Harahap
8. Disassembly Processes and Their Applications
Student: Dida Diah Damayanti
9. Economic Considerations of Disassembly Processes
Student: Ivan Stephanus Tarliman
10. Survey of Tools for the Environmental Assessment of Industrial Products
Student: Agustina Christiani
11. Investigation of Trade-offs in Product Development
Student: Sri Hartati Werdiningsih
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Prospective PhD and exchange student
We are seeking highly motivated PhD and master students interested in Life Cycle Engineering research at the University of New South Wales. Candidates enjoying research in a team and with a good background are encouraged to apply. Please send the following documents directly to Prof S. Kara for your application:
- CV
- University certificates
- Academic transcripts
- Letter of motivation or abstract of the thesis
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