Biography:
Dr Alan Ryan is a Lecturer in Sustainable Automation, Quality Management & Supply Chain in the School of Engineering in University of Limerick. Dr Ryan is a member of the Enterprise Research Group with an industrial background as a manufacturing engineer for a leading multinational electronics manufacturer and uses this industrial background in his approach to research, lecturing and problem solving. He is a member of Engineers Ireland, has developed new systems and technologies which have been patented and licenced to spin-out companies. He jointly led UL’s admission into the CDIO community, which is a move towards making engineering lecturing more problem based. The aim here being to help students grasp key concepts and to provide an industry ready graduate.
Specific research projects Dr Ryan is involved with at the moment include, using simulation models to ascertain the impact of certain decisions on carbon emissions, successful implementation of lean manufacturing in large organisations (barriers and how to sustain success) and understanding Industry 4.0 in industry in a manner which can sustain engineering improvements.