Establishment of the Top Quality Centralized Instrumentation Center: a Model for Developing Countries
B S Chowdhry1,2, A Q K Rajput1, Q Gee2, M F Panhwar3
1 Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro, Pakistan
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2 School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, UK
3 Quaid-e-Awam University of Engineering, Science & Technology, Nawabshah, Pakistan
Abstract
To take part in the global technological advance, it has become imperative, especially for developing countries, to keep pace with the progress being achieved elsewhere, by renewing their research laboratories and by establishing centers of research and development. Developing countries need to advance the fields of engineering, science and technology, which have become essential factors for their economies. The importance of Research and Development especially in the field of Engineering, Science and Technology, in the academic and industrial sectors, is recognized by the Government of Pakistan. In pursuit of such policies, it has established the Top Quality Centralized Instrumentation Center (TQCIC) at Mehran University. This center establishes a major two-way conduit between industry and academia, thus providing cost-effective high-tech solutions. This paper presents the TQCIC as a role model for developing countries. We focus on the importance of achieving self-reliance, developing state-of-the-art equipment training and facilities, and bridging the gap between industries and academic institutions through programs linking them both. Pakistani universities have only produced a few PhDs in Engineering in their first 50 years. As research culture is vital for the acquisition of new knowledge and health of universities, the TQCIC has resulted in the improvement of infrastructure for better training and research. A large number of highly advanced instruments and equipment have been acquired and installed. Research students, faculty members, research scientists, and industries are all benefiting from these facilities. The paper also covers the procedure for selecting the right equipment, development of infrastructure, and technical staff requirements. We demonstrate the benefits of the TQCIC project in terms of financial, economic, technical, and social aspects.
Keywords: self-reliance, university-industry interaction, technological progress, cost-effective high-tech solution, sustainable development, R&D in universities
1. Introduction
In order to meet the current market requirements and compete at an international level in this era of technological revolution, it is essential for developing countries to encourage research and development, and foster interaction between industry and academia. This fact has been recognized as being of crucial importance by many Governments, who believe that the most important mission of a technical university is the advancement of science and technology for the benefit of humanity. The quality of the contributions to society depends upon how efficiently the instruments of education and research are utilized and on the involvement of every university member (staff and students) in the university’s affairs [1]. We believe that the survival and prosperity of a nation depend on the adoption of the true spirit of research and development, and on the desire to serve the nation through expertise already available in developing countries.
Birand makes the point that, given the speed of technological change, “it is essential that the education system prepares students to function productively as engineers (whether in industry, government, or academe) over the full course of a career” [2].
Attaining sustainable development is another essential requirement for any developing country. In fact, preparing for technological change will improve the socio-economic condition of any such country. As Pister wrote, “a country weak in technological literacy will have increasing difficulty competing in the technology-driven global economy of the twenty-first century” [3]. Therefore, the sustainable development of any country depends directly upon the degree of research and development being carried out by its scientists and engineers.
How can developing countries compete with the developed world? Clough answers this by requiring “drastic, radical, improvements in technical education and through the replacement of teaching systems that … produce graduates who cannot make decisions, cannot innovate, and cannot think for themselves” [4]. A very important aspect of improving technical education is through consistency in imparting quality education that encourages innovation and creativity rather than a derivative form of contributions. For any developing country, it is therefore imperative that the industry-academia linkage associated with our technical universities provides indigenous cost-effective high-tech solutions achieved through sincere effort and dedication towards the economic well-being of the country.
Pakistan had lagged behind other developing countries in producing PhDs in the field of Engineering. Thus, the first PhD in Electronic Engineering was only achieved in 2002, being constrained mainly by technical resources. To address this lack of resources, the Government of Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission (HEC) took on the major task of facilitating the development of indigenous universities as world-class centers of education, research and development.
Keeping in view the intention to develop industrial interaction, promote research, and spur development, the HEC approved the establishment of a Top Quality Centralized Instrumentation Center (TQCIC), and has located it in the Department of Electronic & Bio-Medical Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, at Jamshoro in Pakistan.
The TQCIC project envisaged a suite of modern research laboratories provided with the latest equipment, with the three aims of carrying out research at postgraduate level, providing consultancy to industry, and producing trained manpower. It is hoped that this will boost the economy of country in the long term. At a local level, the TQCIC provides a research and development infrastructure for students, research fellows, faculty members, and for neighboring industry.
2. Objectives of the TQCIC
With the establishment of the TQCIC, the university has aimed to enhance existing research and development activities through the provision of advanced instruments and laboratory facilities for fabrication, analysis, testing, measurement, calibration, and training.
2.1. Implementation of Research
The center provides modern research facilities to Masters, MPhil, and PhD students in chosen areas. It cooperates with local industry to define requirements that enable the center to provide better and cost-effective local solutions to their problems, through which university faculty skills can be developed, while enhancing the center’s position as a solution provider. The center helps in narrowing the gap between theory and practice, by implementing the results acquired through research.
2.2. Indigenous Development and Design
One important aim of the center is to develop and design instrumentation that is both cost-effective and meets the needs of local industry, which is easy to service and saves foreign exchange by moving towards self-reliance. As a recent report states, “Developing countries need more home-grown inventors who are committed to tackling poverty through the application of new technologies. … Implementing socially and environmentally sound technologies could allow developing countries to ‘leap frog’ inappropriate or outdated technologies, instead inventing and adopting more sustainable solutions” [5].
2.3. Development of Technical Skills
The center imparts both basic and advanced hands-on training in the field of Instrumentation and Process Control, as required by industry due to growing complexity of manufacturing processes. At the center, various short technical training courses are developed as required by individual clients and by industry, since the country is facing great shortages of highly qualified technicians. Additional refresher courses bring up-to-date trained technicians who undertake maintenance and operation of sophisticated equipment and complicated new technical processes.
2.4. Modernization of old Systems, and Consultancy
There are about 100 industrial enterprises within 30 km of the TQCIC and more than 500 industrial enterprises within 180 km vicinity of the TQCIC. Some of their installed equipment is obsolete, and both industry and academic institutions are looking for solutions that avoid the expense of replacing whole control systems with new ones. The center offers Consultancy Services in instrumentation to industry, works according to their requirements, and provides cost-effective solutions within the limitations and constraints relating to their needs. Various industrial research projects are undertaken to find cost-effective, high-tech, solutions to the development of, and modernization of, existing instrumentation in industry.
3. Infrastructure of TQCIC
We list here some extracts of the current census of equipment that has been provided by Government funding, and by specialized industries, both local and overseas.
3.1 Equipment for Training
Light Measuring Unit (Elettronica Veneta), DC Motor Unit (Elettronica Veneta), Pressure Transducer (Elettronica Veneta), Pressure Process Control (Elettronica Veneta), Light Transducer & Control (Elettronica Veneta), DC Motor Speed Unit (Elettronica Veneta), Pressure Transducer & Signal Conditioner (Elettronica Veneta) Pressure Control (Elettronica Veneta), Process Control Simulator (Elettronica Veneta), Process Control Units (EDIBON), etc.
3.2 Testing and Measurement Facilities
Universal Testing Machine (DC-D500), Friction & Wear Testing Machine, Integrated Harness Tester, Universal Friction & Wear Testing Machine, Digital Storage Scope, Electronic Force Microscope/ Scanning Probe Microscope, etc. Some additional testing and measurement facilities of calibration laboratory and telecommunication engineering department of the university are also being utilized.
3.3 State-of-the-Art Technology Designing Equipment
Wireless Sensor Network Motes (Crossbow), Programmable Logic Controllers (Siemens S7-300), PID Controllers (ASCON), Computer Interfaced PCB Prototype Machines, CNC Machine (Lathe & Milling Machine), etc.
3.4 Advanced Simulation Software
Matlab, OrCAD, Labview, Multisim, Verilogger, Logosoft, EasyCAD (PCB Design), Boxford CAD/CAM, ANSYS, NS2, etc.
3.5 Coordinating Platform
The TQCIC also provides a platform for coordinating the use of resources of other departments, such as calibrating equipment in the Calibration Laboratory, the electronic microscope and XRD System (Bruker) in Mining Engineering, network analyzers in Telecommunication Engineering, and the optical fiber and telematics equipment in Electronic Engineering.
This has a number of advantages.
· Money is saved, as duplication of the equipment at the same institute is avoided
· Duplication of the facility is also avoided at other institutes, which saves a huge amount of foreign exchange and promotes research collaboration
· Utilization of equipment is improved
· Maintenance costs are reduced, since such equipment is being maintained by the experts within the Centre.
4. Equipment Selection
This was tackled in various ways. First, a circular was issued to postgraduate supervisors in the university to get their feedback on the type of research facilities they needed for their doctoral students.
A team of experts surveyed training and modernization requirements of nearby industries, through Kotri Associates of Trade & Industry (KATI), and the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industries (HCCI). These industries include power generation, textile, cement, telecommunications, plastics, oil, beverages, agricultural/horticultural machinery, air-conditioning and refrigeration, electronic machinery, and food processing machinery.
Using the data collected from these sources, a team of experts made up of faculty members and engineering specialists from industry, proposed the equipment required.
5. Quantifiable Benefits of the Project
5.1. Financial
The TQCIC was not meant to achieve any direct financial benefits, since its aim was to provide the enhancement of R&D facilities in all fields of engineering, technology, science and the design of instrumentation.
5.2. Economic
The university, by helping to satisfy local industrial requirements, will ultimately offer better and cost-effective local solutions to the design of instruments in the field of Instrumentation & Control, thus promoting the move towards self-reliance. The placement of highly trained engineers in various sectors will ultimately bring good results in the socio-economic condition of the country.
5.3. Social
Great opportunities have been created for collaboration between Pakistan’s fast growing engineering industry and academia. Such university-industry interaction that has already started has resulted in solving industrial problems indigenously, through the research facilities established in the Department of Electronics & Telecommunication, by students who are doing MPhil/PhDs under the indigenous program.
5.4. Employment generated
In view of the tremendous growth in the engineering sector and the low population density of the country, there is a great scope for, and continuous consumption of, highly trained engineers, experts, technicians and solution providers for indigenous industries.
5.5. Impact of the Project on target groups
The benefits against the project objectives:
· The major objective of modern research facilities has largely been achieved, since state-of-the-art equipment has been purchased, installed, and is being fully utilized.
· A number of faculty members embarked upon research projects utilizing the above-mentioned precision lab equipment, which is helping them in their MPhil/PhD research work.
· The TQCIC is providing a training facility for researchers, faculty members, industry and other institutes for the enhancement of skills in state-of-the-art technology.
6. Technical Staff
One problem common to all developing countries is that all good graduate engineers mostly go to Western and Middle Eastern countries where they find lucrative jobs. Likewise, getting good technician to maintain the equipment is equally difficult. Such shortages have been widely publicized at various forums. The need for technical manpower will increase at a startling rate with the modernization of our economy and the ever-increasing demand of industry. Not only will the economy require greater numbers of technically-trained people, but also the problems the engineer must solve to meet future demand for new technologies will require far more scientific knowledge. To overcome this situation, a special staff grade for engineers and technicians was created in the TQCIC in order to attract qualified and experienced people. In addition, faculty members who were present during installation and commissioning of the equipment, were given the additional challenge of arranging short courses to provide further training to technical staff.
7. Workshops and Hands-on Training
In order to share expertise with industry and to localize solutions to their problems, the TQCIC organizes various workshops in collaboration with industry to impart practical training to engineers, technicians, and students. It also runs training programs in technical skills for the benefit of the scientific community and their associated laboratory staff from different departments and institutions. Some of the workshops that have already been conducted are:
· PCB Design
· PLC Programming for Process Control
· MATLAB for Control Design
· MATLAB for Data Acquisition and Instrument Control
· Wireless Sensor Networks
· Intelligent Instrumentation
· LABVIEW operation
· Materials Testing
· MATLAB for Signal Processing
· FPGA programming