DIRECTOR, Eng. B.S. SAMARASIRI

Engineering Design and it's Importance:

Engineering design is a systematic, intelligent process in which designers generate, evaluate and specify concepts for products, processes or systems whose forms and functions achieve clients'

objectives or users' needs while satisfying specified set of constraints. Design is the essential creative process of engineering which calls for imagination, application of technical expertise, experience, and skillful use of materials. The design activity results in products, and those products add value to raw materials and this creates wealth. The countries who create the most wealth in this manner are United States of America, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom etc. and the people living in these countries enjoy high living standards as a result.

Engineering Design Centre (EDC):

The EDC was established in July 2000 on the basis of funds and other input facilities provided by the ADB under the Science and Technology Personnel Development Project (STPDP). Primary objective of  DC was to promote the importance of engineering design for national development, to strengthen industrial interaction by carrying out designs for industry, to disseminate the design knowledge gained through design projects undertaken from industry to undergraduates and to practicing engineers, and for transferring of technology. EDC was set up as a unit in the Faculty of Engineering and it is managed by a Board of Management headed by the Dean of the Faculty. The Centre is operating under a Director who is assisted on technical matters by a Technical Advisor nominated by the Dean of the Faculty.

EDC was the focal unit of the Faculty to promote the multidisciplinary University - Industry – Government (UIG) linkage project “Seed Need Matching Collaboration” initiated jointly with the Toyohashi University of Technology-Japan. In 2011, an Integrated Technology Incubator support facility will be established at EDC, initially targeting electrical and electronic sectors with funding from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. 

Design Facilities:

The staff of the Centre has multidisciplinary design expertise. The Centre has design facilities for electronic & mechatronic products and systems development. These facilities were strengthened after the installation of 3D systems SLA Viper Digital Rapid Prototyping (RP) Machine. In 2011 EDC acquired MK Mini Vaccum Casting Machine to extend RP services with funding from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

Services:

EDC used to coordinate and conduct the Level 1, term subject “Engineering Design” of the B.Sc. Engineering Course. The curriculum of the course covers Design Principles, Design Case Studies and a group based design assignment.EDC will conduct the subject module “Multidisciplinary Design, Innovation and Venture Creation “in the proposed Minor in Entrepreneurship for B.Sc. Engineering Course. Further, the facilities of the centre are available to academic staff and students as well. Provision of services to Industry include Product Design and Process Design, Design modification, Product Re- Engineering, Product Adaptation, Rapid Prototyping and Rapid Manufacture. In addition, Vacuum Casting Services will be made available from 2012.

Achievements:

EDC won the year 2005 National Science and Technology award of the Ministry of Science and Technology for the Category of Quality Improvement of products or Processes for the Design and Development of a Tea Colour Separator Machine. In the year 2006 EDC won the Presidential Award for the Category of Outstanding Leadership in introducing technologies/ services for the design and development of an Automated Vehicle Park Management System and for Railway Bell and Light Level Crossing Protection Syst