PhD positions on Design for Repair and Remanufacturing using Additive Manufacturing

Join us in developing and evaluating product design methods that enable designers to improve manual repair and automated remanufacturing using 3D-printing technologies.

PhD Positions on Design for Repair and Remanufacturing using Additive Manufacturing

We are looking for two PhD candidates who will contribute to the ADD-reAM project, a large NWO-funded interdisciplinary program with TU Delft, UTwente, TU Eindhoven, Erasmus University Rotterdam, ULeiden, Saxion University of Applied Sciences and many partnering associations and companies.

ADD-reAM aims to revolutionize how industries manage resources and reduce waste by integrating Additive Manufacturing (AM) into repair and remanufacturing, thus contributing to a greener and more resilient economy. The research focuses on developing next-generation AM, product design strategies and methods for repair and remanufacturing using AM, and investigates regulatory, economic, political, environmental, and social innovations needed to implement the project’s innovations. Using AM for spare part production can ensure that spare parts are available for a long time, even after warranty ends. Instead of keeping a large inventory of physical spare parts, a digital file of each spare part can be stored online and produced on demand. This will save costs and waste from unused parts while making them available for a longer period. An additional design objective is to enable automated repair and remanufacturing to increase the economic viability of these strategies.

Your research will investigate how product design can enable both repair, which usually is a manual operation, and remanufacturing, which preferably is automated. This implies that the design of parts should enable mass production as well as production of functionally equivalent spare parts with additive manufacturing. Further, disassembly and reassembly should be able to be carried out both manually and automated. The obtained insights will be incorporated in design methods and should fit the workflow of designers.

PhD-1 position: This position will focus on design aspects that determine feasibility of remanufacturing and upgrading, for replacement spare parts as well as reconstructed parts. This implies that in the design phase of a product, design facilitates the production of 3D-printed spare parts with equivalent functionality as well as automated disassembly and reassembly. Further, more strategic design aspects related to business models that stimulate repair and remanufacturing will be addressed.

PhD-2 position: This position will establish a comprehensive framework for product repairability and remanufacturability, specifically focusing on the product architecture and automated disassembly. The ease of repair and remanufacturing will be analysed with a focus on identifying AM-related bottlenecks in the repair and remanufacturing process. Further, this research will result in a method to guide designers to improve manual repairability as well as automated remanufacturability. Finally, insight in tensions between repair, remanufacturing, and recycling will be balanced in a strategy for long-lifetime products.

Case-studies will be defined during the project, in close collaboration with the consortium.

Essential qualifications:

• A completed MSc degree in Industrial Design Engineering, Mechanical engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with AM and/or product architecture design.
• Experience with quantitative and qualitative research, such as experiments, interviews, contextual inquiry, observations, questionnaires.
• Familiarity with design methods.
• Strong conceptual and analytical skills, and the ability to translate abstract frameworks into real-world application.
• Excellent communication skills in English (spoken and written).

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience in interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary collaboration.
• An independent, flexible, and collaborative working style.

When applying, please clearly indicate whether you are applying for PhD-1, PhD-2, or both. Applications without this indication may not be considered.

Delft University of Technology is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

Matching the evolution of people with the speed of the revolution of technology. This is the focus of the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering (IDE). Delft designers act as a bridge between advances in technology and the needs of people, organisations and society to create products, services and systems with purpose. IDE is a leader in design research across the application areas of mobility, sustainability and health, as well as its development of design tools and methods. A 350-strong research team and over 2,000 students work together in our inspiring hall, labs and studios. In close cooperation with industry, the public sector and NGOs we rehearse possible futures in research and education to design for a complex future.

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1.5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months, followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2.5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from €3059 - €3881 gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.

As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Ruud Balkenende at A.R.Balkenende@tudelft.nl