Muftooh arrived at Strathclyde to study an EngD. Find out more about his studies and thoughts on life at Strathclyde:
Tell us a little about your background prior to coming to study with the department of Design, Manufacturing & Engineering Management (DMEM):
I did my BSc in Mechanical Engineering from University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar, Pakistan and my MSc in Mechanical Engineering from the GIK Institute of Engineering and Technology, Pakistan. I worked as a Research Associate at GIK Institute of Engineering and Technology, Pakistan for four years where I designed, manufactured, installed and commissioned several agriculture, industrial, sports, pharmaceutical and energy products. I used CAD, FEA and CFD to design these products. After which I joined UAE University and worked on phase change materials.
Why did you choose to study at DMEM?
I chose the Department of Design, Manufacturing and Engineering Management because of the spectrum of research that the department works on. It is a perfect mix for an engineer like me who wants to work on the complete product lifecycle; from concept design to final product. This process includes supply chain management, manufacturing, costing and having knowledge of state-of-the-art technology, which when used can minimise the time to market the product.
Why did you choose to study your course?
Studying an EngD is different from a normal PhD. I chose an EngD because it started with coursework through which we studied day to day operations in industry, how to improve industry processes and state-of-the-art technologies that are used by market leaders. This gives students a rather pragmatic approach to problem solving, so that solutions and ideas are applied to companies rather than dying in research labs.
Have you faced or overcome any challenges or obstacles in the pursuit of your studies and/or career?
Yes, a Doctorate degree always has challenges. It is a mixture of individual and team work and I believe it to be more demanding than normal industry work. I always worked on new technologies and faced new technical problems. This enabled me to improve my problem-solving skills and now I can deal with any personal or professional problem in a systematic manner.
What have been the highlights of your course to date?
I have really enjoyed my time here at DMEM and have met people of different technical backgrounds and cultures. I also won the peer review and team award at an entrepreneurial competition arranged by Loughborough University with participating universities from all over UK.
Other highlights include presenting my research papers at internationally reputed conferences in the USA, UK and Thailand. I designed and manufactured a unique equipment to form sheet metal into different shapes and the aerospace, automotive and biomedical industries are very interested in the process. I successfully increased production rate and accuracy of the process and also commented on the internal mechanics of the process.
I was amongst final six students selected for the “3 Minute Thesis” competition held at Strathclyde.
I would also like to mention here that Scotland is a beautiful country with the exception of some bad weather. Personal highlights of my stay in Scotland include the friendly people, unique culture and beautiful lakes. Scotland has been very nice to me and hope it treats you the same!
What are your ambitions following the completion of your course?
I want to work as a consultant in a product design and manufacturing company.
What advice would you give to someone considering coming to study at the department of Design, Manufacturing and Engineering Management?
I would highly recommend DMEM and University of Strathclyde due to its entrepreneurial and pragmatic approach to problem-solving. The University of Strathclyde and specially DMEM are highly involved in industrial projects with big names like Boeing, Rolls Royce, Timet and many more.
Both my supervisors Professor Jonathan Corney and Dr. Giri have been really helpful throughout my degree. This degree would not have been possible without their moral and technical support. It has been an amazing and fun learning experience with them and I hope other students coming in will have the same experience.