Part of the Department of Engineering, the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM) has forged strong links with industry and business both nationally and internationally, including extensive connections with both India and China. Industrial involvement underpins its research and education activities, facilitating the rapid transfer of new ideas and technologies into companies. Companies collaborate with the IfM via long-term research programmes, academic/industrial forums and commissioned research. They work with researchers to address the most critical industrial issues, and to test and refine new techniques. A team of industrial practitioners in the University-owned company IfM Education and Consultancy Services Ltd, applies research-based improvement techniques in companies of all sizes via a programme of industrial services. This provides a rapid dissemination route for new ideas and approaches and helps to inform future research.
