Grant: College and Community Innovation Program

Additive and digital manufacturing and advanced machining (ADA) is transforming the industrial world in Canada and globally as we move from Industry 3.0 to adopt Industry 4.0. Industry experts indicate that Canada and Alberta are falling behind in the adoption of ADA and Industry 4.0. ADA is turning product and process development into data platforms, allowing for virtual design, simulation, and testing of products processes and production systems and rapid development prototyping, and production of new and enhanced products, processes and services. Alberta has the 3rd largest manufacturing sector in Canada accounting for 6.4% of real GDP in 2017 and $70.9B of sales. As Alberta's economy shifts from the production of oil and gas and mining products, ADA will play a key role in supporting the transition and growth of companies in aerospace, medical, machinery, artificial intelligence and machine learning based software and applications, food products, fabricated metals. Building on the decade long industry-driven applied research experience, cutting-edge expertise and infrastructure, SAIT is proposing the Centre for Innovation and Research in Additive and Digital Manufacturing (CIRADM) to facilitate the industrial and manufacturing transformation in Alberta and Canada. CIRADM will focus on three core areas: topology optimization, assembly consolidation and additive and advanced manufacturing, along with the over-riding importance of using data to make good design decision. Coupled with industry contributions and CFI, NSERC funding will be used to provide a stable financial environment for the establishment and operation of CIRADM. The research carried out by CIRADM will complement the parallel development of the Alberta Additive Manufacturing Network and NGen, and the new Advanced Manufacturing and Digital Technology Programs at SAIT. CIRADM will provide a unique venue for HQP training. By working closely with industry, the centre will provide students with the opportunity to work on innovative applied research, directly related to the rapidly-expanding adoption of ADA and Industry 4.0 both in Alberta, and in Canada as a whole.