Advanced Manufacturing Week
8-12 July 2024
Additive manufacturing, 5G networks, augmented reality and more – a wide range of novel technologies are finally maturing and finding vital applications in the most cutting-edge and productive factories. As manufacturers navigate challenges including supply chain disruption, sustainability demands and economic uncertainty, engineers need expert knowledge of new approaches to efficiency and innovation.
08
Jul
Why consider a career in engineering and manufacturing – ten good reasons
In this talk, Peter looks at the contribution that engineering makes to modern society, in particular how engineering affects everything that we do. Engineers turn ideas and technology into something that we can manufacture in quantity and all use. From the earliest of times, engineering has been central to human existence but in the modern world, we face particular challenges: climate change, material use and healthcare, for example. A career in engineering and manufacturing gives creative people the opportunity to make their mark, see the impact of their work, and make a real difference to society.
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SpeakersPeter Flinn Past President IMechE
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Peter Flinn was the 2021/22 President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
He is a chartered engineer who studied mechanical sciences at the University of Cambridge. He also holds an MBA and attended the international senior management programme at Harvard Business School. He has worked mainly in manufacturing industry in the aircraft, rail, commercial vehicle and process industries.
He started his career with the military aircraft division of what is now BAE Systems on projects such as the Anglo-French Jaguar.
He then moved to Leyland DAF Limited, his last position being Quality Director for the UK, having previously held senior positions in product development, research and manufacturing in Leyland and in Scotland.
He joined BREL/ABB in Derby, now part of Alstom’s UK rail business, as Head of Engineering. He was closely involved in the restructuring of the company after ABB took full control, setting up and running the Bodyshell Division of which he was Director, based in York.
Subsequently in ABB, he was MD of ABB Support Ltd and then of ABB Engineering Services/ABB Eutech, a 750-person international technical consultancy, bought from ICI. His role was to integrate this business into ABB, ensure its financial viability and develop its position in the market place.
His most recent industrial role was as MD of Vectra Group Limited, an engineering consultancy specialising in safety work for hazardous industries.
Since 2007, he has worked mainly at the interface between industry, government and academia. In 2014, he completed the start-up of the Aerospace Technology Institute. Prior to that, he helped InnovateUK establish the Catapult programme. During 2009 and 2010, he was the Project Director for the £40.55m Manufacturing Technology Centre built near Coventry. All three organisations are flourishing.
Since withdrawing from active consultancy in 2017, he has written a book entitled Managing Technology & Product Development Programmes, published by John Wiley & Sons in 2019.
He is an active member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, has been chairman of its Manufacturing Industries Division and the main point of contact for TMMX. He was also chairman of the Intelligent Automation centre at Loughborough University between 2012 and 2017.