Technological maturity assessment of hybrid manufacturing technology

Dim, Eberechukwu Chukwunyelum ORCID: 0000-0002-0046-8928 (2023). Technological maturity assessment of hybrid manufacturing technology. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

Additive and hybrid manufacturing technologies have for a long time been referred to as new, emerging, relatively new technologies in all publications and references to date. The need to ascertain the level of technology advancement in the additive and hybrid manufacturing technologies (HMT), a data-based status, and the need to assure and reassure both the existing and prospective government agencies, academia, and industry investors of the reality has necessitated the need for research on the maturity assessment of the two emerging technologies. The research therefore aimed to develop and implement a technological maturity assessment model for HMT along three process capability variables: process product quality (PPQ), process efficiency (PE), and the process effectiveness (PEffec.) and to test the maturity compatibility of the processes. In doing so, a digital technology and artificial intelligence based semi-direct technological maturity assessment methodology (SDTMAM) was conceived, where some artificial intelligence (AI), fuzzy logic theory and set theory-based models were developed, progressively and systematically linked together to be applied as scientific tools to source and process research data for assessment of the maturity levels of individual additive and subtractive manufacturing technologies, as well as the hybrid manufacturing technology. The model was implemented on the technological maturity assessment of hybrid manufacturing technology (HMT) that integrates metal additive manufacturing, and a computer and numerical control (CNC) machining processes. A Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) maturity profile of the Software Engineering Institute was adopted as a reference maturity profile for the technological maturity assessment results and ranking. The HMT after research and results simulation was found at the quantitatively managed maturity level of 4 of 5, where the individual technological maturity levels of HMT based on PPQ, PE, and PEffec. are 63.5%, 67.75%, and 71.63% respectively. With the overall maturity level of 3.39, at 67.63%, which justifies, and thus represents the maturity level of HMT that integrates metal additive manufacturing and CNC machining processes. Subsequently, maturity compatibility test model for the HM processes was developed, designed and implemented based on processes union, complementarity, difference and intersection. The result suggests that the technologies maturity intersection is equivalent to the processes interface, which is the hybrid manufacturing technology maturity level.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):