[Closed] PhD scholarship in the field of Digital Manufacturing Technologies for the increment of productivity in Home Appliances high complexity assembly lines (Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions ESR no. 8)

PhD scholarship in the field of Digital Manufacturing Technologies for the increment of productivity in Home Appliances high complexity assembly lines (Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions ESR no. 8)

Organisation:                                    University of Zaragoza

Research field:                                 Engineering > Industrial engineering

                                                               Engineering > Mechanical engineering

Research profile:                             First Stage Researcher (R1)

Application deadline:                    01/05/2019 23:00 – Europe/Brussels

Location:                                             Spain > Zaragoza

Type of contract:                             Temporary

Job status:                                          Full-time

Hours per week:                              37.5

Offer starting date:                        June 2019

EU Research FW Programme:    H2020 / Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions

Reference number:                        MSCA-Digiman4.0-ESR8

PROJECT CONTEXT AND TASKS:

DIGIMAN4.0 project:

Early Stage Researcher position in the frame of the Horizon2020 Marie-Curie Innovative Training Network DIGIMAN4.0 “DIGItal MANufacturing Technologies for Zero-defect Industry 4.0 Production”, aiming at the provision of world excellent research training to 15 ESRs (Early Stage Researchers) in the field of digital manufacturing technologies for Industry 4.0. Please look at the project website for further details. Namely this position is related to the ESR position no. 8 of the DIGIMAN4.0 project.

This research training will focus on three main aspects: 1) Innovative technological solutions for high quality, high throughput and high precision production; 2) Cutting edge multi-disciplinary training in different domains; and 3) Validation of different digital manufacturing technologies by integration into process chains for the production of advanced components in several sectors.

Hosting institution: University of Zaragoza (UNIZAR)

The Group for Manufacturing Engineering and Advanced Metrology at the University of Zaragoza performs world leading research in the fields of dimensional metrology with 3D large scale systems (laser trackers, etc.), development of precision engineering systems, manufacturing systems optimization, integration of digital technologies into manufacturing process according to Lean manufacturing principles, development and application of in-line quality vision technologies to manufacturing processes.

Responsibilities and tasks:

Some products in the home appliance field have a high variety of references and models that are produced in the same factory. Such a number of different references causes a high complexity that must be managed. The most standard references are usually produced in a more automatic line with a high output per hour, while the exotic ones are produced in standard lines very manual and with low output per hour. Due to the low quantities per year of these exotic products the automation of these standard lines is not profitable. There is also an additional difficulty for the workers to learn all the different variants that they have to assemble taking into account that some of the models are produced once per week or just once per month.

It is the goal for the current PhD project to investigate, develop and integrate in the production process the digital manufacturing technologies needed to implement a flexible automation of the standard assembly lines according to Lean manufacturing principles. The goal is the improvement its productivity of the standard lines, supporting the assembly job of the workers in order to increase the quality of the final assembled product by reducing defects. The methodology to do it and the analysis of the influence on the workers performance and satisfaction will be direct research outputs of the project.

The PhD project will have the following objectives:

• Development of a methodology to implement a flexible automation of the standard assembly lines according to Lean manufacturing principles.
• Benchmarking of possible applicable digital technologies.
• Investigation of the integration of intelligent collaborative robots in standard assembly lines for a quick adaptation of the assembly line and the collaborative robot program to the new references.
• Use of artificial vision cameras and augmented reality both to support the assembly processes and for the in-line quality and performance checks of the assemblies.
• Performance testing and implementation tasks.
• Analysis of results and evaluation of the proposed methodology and implemented actions.

Qualifications:

• Engineering: University Master Degree or equivalent giving access to a doctoral programme.
• Good communication skills in English, both written and spoken.
• Programming skills are desirable.
• Experience and qualification in the field of Lean manufacturing will be appreciated.
• Knowledge about quality control vision systems, augmented reality and collaborative robots will be appreciated.
• Ability to work independently, to plan and carry out complicated tasks, and to be a part of a large and dynamic group.

Specific requirements: Mobility and experience

At the time of recruitment, the Early Stage Researcher (ESR) must not have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Spain for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to his/her recruitment under the project.

Eligible candidates must be, at the time of the recruitment, in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research career and have not been awarded a doctoral degree.

Academic approval and Enrolment

The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in the Doctoral Program in Design and Manufacturing Engineering at University of Zaragoza. It is required 300 Graduate ECTS (of which at least 60 ECTS must of a Master degree) by the time the student is hired. If your degree proceeds from outside the European Higher Education Area, your certifications may need to be validated to the host institution country. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see its website (choose English on the top menu).

Equal opportunities and non-discrimination:

University of Zaragoza supports equal opportunities in its recruiting processes no matter the gender, age, ethnic, national or any other personal condition, provided that the rest of the eligibility conditions of the MSCA-ITN programme are met. University of Zaragoza respects the European Charter and Code for Researchers in the development of its processes relating with people management.

We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment.

Benefits:

All applicants will be employed under a local employment contract for a maximum of 3 years, compatible with national and regional legislation and following the guidelines provided by the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers, including salaries with adequate and equitable social security benefits. Social Security contribution (compulsory in Spain) includes health care and retirement, among other benefits.

The annual gross salary will be in accordance with the indications shown in Section 5 of the “H2020 Programme. Guide for Applicants. Marie Sk?odowska-Curie Actions - Innovative Training Networks (ITN)”. According to DIGIMAN4.0 Grant Agreement, the gross salary is up to 37435 euros/year plus a mobility allowance of 600 euros per month and a family allowance* of 500 euros per month, where applicable.

*Family allowance: A family allowance will be paid in case the researcher has family obligations. In this context, family is defined as persons linked to the researcher:

                                 i.            by marriage

                                ii.            by a relationship with equivalent status to a marriage recognised by the legislation of the country or region where this relationship was formalized

                              iii.            as dependent children who are actually being maintained by the researcher

The family status of a researcher will be determined at the date of deadline of the call and will not be revised during the lifetime of the action.

1 month of annual summer holidays. One week off in winter holiday. Professional-personal life balance. Full salary during sickness.

Visual information about the University of Zaragoza and its research work can be found in these videos: https://vimeo.com/230563312 and https://vimeo.com/265141983

Further information may be obtained from Associate Professor Jose Yagüe-Fabra, e-mail: jyague@unizar.es; tel.: +34 976762561.

Doctoral Training:

A career development plan will be prepared for each fellow in accordance with his/her supervisor and will include training, planned secondments and outreach activities in partner institutions of the network. The ESR fellows are supposed to complete their PhD thesis by the end of the 3rd year of their employment. For more information please visit Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Innovative Training Networks.

The selected ESR will enroll in a Doctoral programme leading to the award of a doctoral degree by the University of Zaragoza (Spain).

Workshops:

During the DIGIMAN4.0 project all ESR participants will take part in the Workshops Programme shown in http://www.digiman4-0.mek.dtu.dk/workshops

Planned secondments:

The development of the training process includes a period of time to be spent in the companies involved in this specific project (ESR 8) (http://www.digiman4-0.mek.dtu.dk/vacant-positions)

Application:

Applications should be submitted by email to Jose Yagüe-Fabra (jyague@unizar.es). Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter).
• Curriculum vitae (attaching certificated evidence of each merit to be considered).
• Copies of degree (BSc and MSc) and academic transcripts (with grades and rankings).
• Summary of Master thesis (max. 1 page).
• Passport copy.

Candidates may apply prior to obtaining their master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.

Applications and enclosures received after the deadline will not be considered.

Selection process:

No reply will be given to those applications not fulfilling the elegibility criteria.

Documental evidence of all the eligibility-relevant assertions in the CV will be required from the candidates selected for interview.

The selection process could include remote and/or face-to-face interview.

The assessment of the applicants will be made by Associate Professors José Yagüe-Fabra, José A. Albajez, Marta Torralba, Jorge Santolaria and Professor Juan J. Aguilar, as well as by the project coordinator Associate Professor Guido Tosello from DTU.