Grant: Canada Research Chairs

Geared toward the training of the next generation of experts, responsible for trustworthy design and development of automated and human-in-the-loop predictive and prescriptive systems, as well as the development of methodologies for a sustainable and resilient future, Dr. Taghipour’s research will focus on the following areas: Objective 1. Design and development of real-time and distributed decision-making systems: Dr. Taghipour has pioneered the development of real-time optimization models for production scheduling and maintenance planning. Additionally, she is also developing decentralized prognostic approaches for physical assets. In her second CRC term, she will continue building real-time and distributed data analytics and optimization models for (1) prognostic and health management (PHM); (2) prescriptive maintenance, and (3) production scheduling. Objective 2. Development of methodologies for optimal design of systems with the consideration of reliability, resilience, safety, and sustainability: Dr. Taghipour has developed numerous models for the optimal reliability design of physical assets. During her renewal term, she will develop models for (1) reliability optimization of hierarchical k-out-of-n systems, which are widely used in engineering, especially in critical safety instruments; (2) the risk-based optimization of safety integrity levels (SILs) in process facilities while considering both individual and societal risks, and (3) optimal reliability design and dynamic redesign of products and their supply chain networks while considering sustainability and resilience. Dr. Taghipour’s automated systems will result in higher productivity with fewer errors and reduced costs. Her decentralized prognostic models will enable hierarchical and collaborative knowledge creation, higher privacy and security, better utilization of resources and lower computation time, and higher resilience. Her methodologies for optimal systems’ design will improve reliability, safety, and sustainability, and enhance the resilience of manufacturing to disruptions. Dr. Taghipour’s HQP will acquire strong skillsets and expertise in mathematical modeling and optimization, solution strategies to solve optimization problems, simulation modeling, data analytics, and develop the skills of working with industry data, thus benefitting Canada’s workforce.