WMG News - Latest news from WMG

Bridget Jones first showed us her “absolutely enormous panties” 15 years ago - and since then, global sales of support pants have soared, according to joint research by WMG at the University of Warwick and the University of Moratuwa in Sri Lanka.

Support underwear is currently so popular that the supply chain involved in making of a typical pair covers almost 71,000 miles and 16 different manufacturing sites, across three continents.

The research shows that this massive growth in sales is a direct result of manufacturers making significant investments in the design and production of shapewear over the last few years.

Professor Lord Bhattacharyya was delighted to welcome Mr Lars Jacob Hiim, and Ms. Dilek Ayhan, State Secretaries (Deputy Ministers) for Trade and Industry from the Norwegian government, to WMG yesterday (Monday 12^th September).

Also joining the Deputy Ministers was a special industry delegation focused on trade and innovation for Norway.

Mr Hiim said: “We would like to thank WMG for interesting presentations and an interesting tour. The Norwegian government are working on a White Paper on the industry's future conditions at the moment. We are also experiencing a considerable demand from various industry sectors for easy access to testable facilities. We are therefore interested in learning more from our neighboring countries, and, so far, our study trip to the UK has been very useful.”

WMG is delighted to announce that Senior Teaching Fellow, Dr Kim Stansfield, has received international acclaim by winning the Akao Prize 2016, making him only the second ever British winner.

The Akao Prize is awarded to individuals around the world who have demonstrated excellence in their practice and dissemination of Quality Function Deployment (QFD).

Dr Stansfield says: ‘‘After 26 years of applying and developing the QFD approach, the customer led concurrent design approach, it is humbling to join such an august group of previous winners."

WMG’s Professor Paul Jennings has been shortlisted in the ‘Outstanding Research Supervisor of the Year’ category at the prestigious Times Higher Education Awards 2016.

Professor Jennings leads WMG’s Energy and Electrical Systems and Intelligent Vehicles research.

He is undoubtedly one of WMG’s most experienced doctoral supervisors, noted for his academic rigour, quiet efficiency and capacity for hard work, as well as his loyalty to colleagues and dedicated supervision of his students. It comes as no surprise that Paul’s approach has won the highest respect and admiration from colleagues, students, and industrial collaborators.

The next generation of “Scene-Referred” High Dynamic Range (SR-HDR) video, developed by a European consortium led by WMG at the University of Warwick, will be demonstrated publicly for the first time at this year’s International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) in Amsterdam.

Researchers who have seen this technology in the lab claim that SR-HDR represents the biggest step forward since the emergence of colour and is the ultimate destination for the first examples of HDR which are currently emerging on the consumer market.

“Scene-Referred” means the full range of lighting in a scene is captured and preserved via a future-proof SR-HDR codec. The system also includes a real-time production system and a unique 10,000nit HDR display.

This display is 10 times brighter than currently available HDR displays and it’s the first time a 10,000nit display has ever been shown publicly. Such a display ensures that the picture can be fully appreciated without the need for a darkened room.

Professor Lord Bhattacharyya was pleased to welcome Margot James MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility, BEIS, to WMG on the 1 September.

Ms James was keen to hear about the breadth of our research and development, including the WMG centre High Value Manufacturing Catapult, and the impact that this has on the economy. She was also given an overview of our substantial SME programme, working to accelerate productivity and growth in SMEs by applying research-led tools and techniques, building sustainable and collaborative relationships.

Business Minister Margot James said:

“It was great to visit WMG yesterday which is expanding and making a real difference to local manufacturers through its innovative research. I was also honoured to meet Lord Bhattacharyya whose pioneering spirit can be felt throughout WMG.”

Professor Lord Bhattacharyya commented:

“I was delighted to welcome Margot James, MP to WMG and highlight to her our world leading research showing how this impacts companies and organisations, as well as society and the economy.”

The University of Warwick was today pleased to welcome the Prime Minister, Theresa May MP, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond MP, to the University to visit WMG, a world leading research centre focused on providing innovative solutions to industry, and to learn of the University and WMG’s plans and activities for research and innovation.

During their visit the Prime Minister and Chancellor met with the University of Warwick’s Provost, Christine Ennew, and the Chairman of WMG, Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya, to discuss Warwick’s and WMG’s role in science, innovation and skills development and toured WMG’s International Manufacturing Centre (IMC).

As part of their IMC tour the Prime Minister and Chancellor were shown one of the world’s most adaptable and advanced driving simulators, the 3xD Simulator. The 3xD Simulator is the only of its kind designed specifically to test real-world robustness and usability of smart, connected and autonomous vehicle technology and it will be the centre piece of the Virtual Reality Centre in the National Automotive Innovation Centre.

Shipping cars could be safer and more efficient than ever before, thanks to innovative solutions developed by WMG at the University of Warwick for Trans-Rak International (TRI).

Working with Warwickshire-based manufacturer Trans-Rak International, Piero Filippin, Innovation Manager at WMG, has created software that automates the task of finding the optimal placement of cars in a shipping container – allowing for any combination of make or model – and can double the vehicle capacity of shipping containers.

The software operates a car racking system produced by TRI, and the combined technologies could lead to massive savings for the global automotive industry, enabling more cars to fit into fewer containers, as they are transported across the world.

Currently, an average of two cars can be stored in each container. That capacity would be doubled to four cars using this revolutionary system.

The software, developed by Piero Filippin, generates recommendations on any number of cars, of different makes and models, to be stored in the most efficient possible combination and position.

WMG, University of Warwick has launched a free online MOOC course exploring exactly 'how things get to you' through the invisible world of supply chains.

Jan Godsell, Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Strategy at WMG explains: “Rarely a day goes by when supply chains aren’t featured in our news in some shape or form, so it seemed only natural that they should be the focus of our course.

“Our course will give people the opportunity to explore the complex web of supply chains, enabling them to understand where they fit in. Our ultimate aim is that by improving understanding they will go on to do ‘one thing differently,’ whether that be for example buying seasonally or avoiding BOGOF offers.”

WMG Academy for Young Engineers is today celebrating the success of their Year 13 students; their first cohort to graduate with a 100% pass rate in engineering and over a quarter of its students gaining places at Russell Group Universities

Students have achieved great success in their academic and vocational qualifications with 55% achieving A*-C pass rate.

Jo Lopes, Head of Technical Excellence for Jaguar Land Rover, Chair of Governors at the WMG Academy said:

I am delighted with the first cohort results. Our vision for a business-like and business-led approach has yielded good results with 100% pass rate in engineering in both Principal Learning and BTEC Extended Diploma in Engineering. Students are going on to a range of superb destinations from Russell Group universities through to advanced level apprenticeships.”