Role Description
We welcome applications from passionate, self-motivated, skilled, team player and committed candidates to join our team at Cranfield University and EWB Solutions to contribute to a knowledge transfer partnership between Cranfield University and EWB Solutions on advancing manufacture of metallic bellows used in critical equipment that operate in vacuum. The KTP is focused to improve manufacturing productivity through improvement of the present practice and experimenting disruptive technology. The applicant will use statistical tools complimentary to the manufacturing experimentation to bring substantial improvement on present manufacturing practice. The goal is to achieve higher production capacity and improve in productivity through faster manufacturing and reduction of defects.
An exciting opportunity to work as a Specialist Welding Engineer (Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Associate) has arisen as part of a collaboration project between EWB Solutions Ltd and Cranfield University. EWB Solutions Ltd specialises in the design and manufacture of edge welded bellows. This project will deliver EWB’s vision of shifting to precision engineering lean manufacturing practices, underpinned by scientific, statistical and analytical methods. Through the embedding of specialist welding expertise and techniques, EWB will modernise and automate their production processes. Benefits include enhancing repeatability, reducing scrap rates (by 10%), improving efficiency and reduced lead times (by 60%). EWB aim to be market leaders and the outcomes of this project will enable EWB to scale and move up the value chain. The innovation lies in implementation of advance processing techniques which would optimise the manufacturing methods for EWB's product. Working with academics from the Welding and Additive Manufacturing Centre at Cranfield University, this project will investigate impact of raw material strength on forming followed by optimisation of Gas Tungsten Arc (GTAW) and plasma welding processes for bellows manufacture. Statistical techniques and machine learning would be complimentarily employed to understand the degree of impact of different processing parameters on the capability of the process under study. EWB will also explore disruptive technologies such as laser processing in place of arc welding as a manufacturing option and determine potential future investment routes.
About the Role
Your role will be to embed new knowledge and capability in specialist welding processes, precision engineering and lean manufacturing, to optimise, modernise and automate the company's production processes for its core product, the metallic bellows. Details of EWB Solutions can be found in
About You
You are required to have a minimum 2.1 degree in Mechanical or Materials Engineering, or related discipline. A Masters and/or PhD in a related discipline is desirable but not essential.
This role requires knowledge of the following areas:
- Knowledge of welding and joining
- Understanding of Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) and/or Plasma process
- Metallurgical understanding of stainless steel and other nickel-based alloys and their response to thermal processing
- Computer aided design (CAD; e.g. Autodesk Inventor, SolidWorks software)
- Knowledge of statistical tools (e.g. Statistica) to analyse process capability, variation and other statistical parameters to explain the performance of a process
Experience of working in an industrial setting or manufacturing environment, along with being familiar with lean manufacturing methodologies would also be desirable in this role
This role would suit an individual with excellent project management, team working and interpersonal skills. The candidate is expected to have excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills, be self-motivated and creative to be able to solve problems. As KTP projects are aimed to develop future leaders, separate funding is available for development of transferrable skillset of the candidate.eit
As the KTP will require time to perform experimentation, mechanical testing and characterisation, they should be able to spend time at Cranfield University, therefore, the candidate will need to be able to travel during the period of the project.
About Us
As a specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield’s world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships are creating leaders in technology and management globally. Learn more about Cranfield and our unique impact .
Cranfield Manufacturing is one of the eight themes at Cranfield University offering world-class and niche post-graduate level research, education, training and consultancy. We are unique in our multi-disciplinary approach by bringing together design, materials’ technology and management expertise. Find out more about our work here [].
You will be based at EWB headquarters and will work closely with the Production Manager at EWB and a team of academics at the Cranfield Welding and Additive Manufacturing Centre.
Our Values and Commitments
Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community. Find out more .
We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme. We are committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role and have been ranked in the Top 30 family friendly employers in the UK by the charity . Find out more about our key commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Flexible Working .
Working Arrangements
This job role would require the candidate to work onsite at EWB works or for some specific need at the Cranfield University. Working remotely will only be feasible at the time of report writing or data analysis.
Eligibility
An individual currently or previously employed by EWB Solutions Ltd, would not be eligible for the KTP Associate role.
Individuals who have already been a KTP Associate would not be considered an ideal candidate.
