Center for Intelligent Maintenance Systems (IMS)
The University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee and the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor have jointly established a National Science Foundation (NSF) Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC) on Intelligent Maintenance Systems (IMS). The core activities of the IMS Center are concentrated on bringing about innovations on wireless and web-enabled predictive maintenance technologies, including intelligent machine degradation assessment methodologies, e-prognostics, and e-diagnostics to enable manufacturers and customers to have products and machines with near-zero-breakdown conditions. The Center plans to develop intelligent prognostics software such as digital Watchdog Agent(TM) (prognostics on a chip and algorithm) for in-situ machine degradation assessment and remote monitoring as well as web-enabled agents for internet-augmented intelligent maintenance and e-service business decision-making systems (e.g. e-business tools). In addition, the Center will develop methodologies for designing self-maintenance machines and products.
- Funding Sources
The Center is financed by NSF and its member companies. NSF provides $650,000 in guaranteed total funding over a five-year period, with additional funding coming in the form of membership fees.
- Administrative Staff
The Center director is Professor Jay Lee of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and co-director is Professor Jun Ni of the University of Michigan. The directors manage the day-to-day operation of the Center, act as a liaison with member companies as well as the universities' administration and sets goals and future directions of research. The University Policy Committee, which consists of senior leaders from both universities, assure that the Center's activities are consistent with academic policies and procedures of the universities. In addition, the Center has an external NSF evaluator to monitor and evaluate research interaction between Center researchers and company members.
- Advisory Committees
Industrial partners serve on the Center's Industrial Advisory Board. The IAB, consisting of one voting member from each participating company, provides advice on research priorities and makes recommendations on projects to be funded. The board meets twice annually.
- Research Thrust Areas
Research is organized into four key program areas:
- Production equipment e-monitoring and e-maintenance systems;
- Web-enabled management and optimization of industrial systems, power and energy;
- Smart Device-to-Business(TM) technologies; and
- Web-enabled development tools for e-maintenance application systems.
- Industry Membership
Membership includes 40 companies. Each member company pays a fee to belong, each contributing either $35,000 per year for a regular membership or $10,000 per year for an affiliated membership.
For more information, contact:
Jun Ni
Co-Director
Center for Intelligent Maintenance Systems
University of Michigan College of Engineering
2250 GG Brown
2350 Hayward Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109- 2125
(734)936-2918 phone
(734)936-0363 fax
junni@umich.edu
http://www.imscenter.net/
