Advanced engineering and manufacturing leaders have the chance to discover new digital technologies to improve their businesses.

Lancaster University Management School is hosting special event as part of the EnginE programme, funded by the European Social Fund.

The project is designed to open doors for small and medium-sized businesses to access effective workforce development opportunities and futureproof their business. The upcoming session will demonstrate how new technologies can boost efficiency, grow market share, and meet the demands of modern customers.

A two-and-a-half-hour session, ‘New product development technologies for engineering leaders’, will take place in Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) on Monday, July 8.

It will cover how engineering simulation can be used to accelerate the product development process by reducing design and manufacturing costs, as well as the risk of failure, while allowing for better product understanding through virtual prototyping.

Annette Suddes, EnginE Project Manager at Lancaster University Management School, said: “There are many commercial aspects of involving simulations at various stages in a product’s lifecycle. We will look at those, and will give business leaders the chance to study analysis-driven design processes and how simulations can become a vital tool in their companies’ development strategy.”

The session will include case studies demonstrating how such technology can be used to design, validate and optimise product development, from large-scale aircraft development, through to SME-specific examples.

Attendees are also offered a tour of Lancaster University’s Engineering Department and can find out more about the opportunities available via the EnginE project.

Dr Steff Evans, of Evotech CAE, will be the lead speaker. He has more than 20 years’ experience of advanced Finite Element Analysis technology (FEA) and has spent much of his career in both the commercial and military airframe supply chains. Dr Evans now focuses on FEA consultancy in SMEs and training in FEA technology.

‘New product development technologies for engineering leaders’ will take place in Lancaster University Management School, on Monday, July 8, between 4.30pm and 7pm.

EnginE is a funded programme, delivered in partnership with Blackburn College, Blackpool & Fylde College and the Northern Automotive Alliance, and in collaboration with BOOST – Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub, which means the support and advice businesses receive is free, and the programmes, masterclasses and resources available are often heavily subsidised.

Details of the event can be found here. To find out more, email EnginE@lancaster.ac.uk or call Lancaster University Management School on 01524 510194.