UKZN Lecturer Dr Jared Padayachee gained his PhD in Mechanical Engineering. Mechanical Engineering Doctorate for Lecturer
The development of methods for the design and evolution of reconfigurable cellular manufacturing systems was the subject of Dr Jared Padayachee’s dissertation, which earned him a PhD degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Padayachee, who was supervised by Professor Glen Bright, is a member of the vigorous Mechatronics and Robotics Research Group situated within UKZN’s Discipline of Mechanical Engineering.
Padayachee explained that a reconfigurable cellular manufacturing system (RCMS) is an emerging manufacturing system paradigm where the configuration of manufacturing cells evolve in response to the introduction of new products and changing market demand.
Padayachee has developed methods for the design of a RCMS to support configuration changes to the structure of manufacturing cells. He has also developed multi-period reconfiguration planning methods that determine how cells should evolve in a manner that maximises the profitability of the production system.
With work colleagues and friends serving as his inspiration Padayachee is looking forward to advancing his research in the area of advanced manufacturing systems and innovative machine design.
‘I chose to do a PhD in order to pursue a career in academia,’ he said. ‘The freedom to create new technologies and explore new things is what attracted me.’
‘Completing my PhD was extremely challenging and often frustrating. With a PhD, success does not exclusively depend on the amount of work you put it. In the effort to make a novel contribution to the field there are many “dead end” ideas that a researcher may invest time in, without coming up with a conclusive result. It takes a lot of patience and perseverance until that day comes when you have a “Eureka moment”,’ he said.
Prashina Budree