Manufacturing and Materials Department

World class and niche manufacturing research, education, training and consultancy is the main focus of the department. We innovate and offer complete solutions to the high value manufacturers, government organisations and their supply chain to improve their competitiveness and long-term sustainability. 

Manufacturing at Cranfield University is unique in its multi-disciplinary approach that brings together expertise in the areas of design, technology and management. We link fundamental materials research with manufacturing to develop novel technologies and improve the science base of the manufacturing research. Our world-class research facilities are near industry scale and are available for exploring novel technologies and processes.

The Manufacturing and Materials Department hosts EPSRC Centres for Innovative Manufacturing, (leading two of them),  Integrated Knowledge Centre on Ultra-Precision Structured Surfaces and two pan-university Centres of Excellence in Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM) and Centre for Competitive Creative Design (C4D). The department also leads our Doctoral Training Centre in Manufacturing and Materials and has the following internationally recognised Institutes and Centres to lead our research excellence, postgraduate teaching and consultancy.

We are a major contributor to Cranfield being third in the UK for the impact of its mechanical, aeronautical and manufacturing research.

Led by Professor Rajkumar Roy, the department is proud of its collaboration and long-term partnership with manufacturing industry across multiple sectors: from aerospace, automotive, defence to process manufacturing. We have developed a unique comprehensive approach to industry collaboration. Our Professional Masters Programme are designed mostly for employees of our industrial partners and are well recognised within the companies for their leadership development. Our postgraduate courses have also been designed and developed in collaboration with industry to ensure they provide the skills and knowledge organisations require. Our excellence in manufacturing and materials education and training is recognised by a number of professional institutions within the manufacturing sector including the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), the Institution of Engineering & Technology (IET), Institute of Materials (IoM) and the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS). Our Fellowship in Operations Leadership brings a unique approach to industrial problem solving through leadership development. Our short courses are world-renowned for its unique knowledge and relevance. The courses are part of our comprehensive service offer to industry.