Rate My Professor Rob Harrison

Professor Robert Harrison serves as Professor of Automation Systems and Head of the Automation Systems Group (ASG) at the Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), University of Warwick. He obtained his B.Tech. and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical and manufacturing engineering from Loughborough University. Before joining WMG in 2013, Harrison was Professor of Automation Systems at Loughborough University from 2005 to 2013. Under his leadership, the ASG pioneers Industry 4.0 technologies and manufacturing digitalisation, developing virtual twins, advanced control systems, digital validation tools, scalable connectivity solutions, advanced analytics, and data-centric processes for production systems. The group supports automation of physical and software systems across the manufacturing lifecycle, collaborating with industry partners in sectors ranging from agritech to aerospace, including large, medium, and small enterprises in product and supply chains. Harrison's expertise extends to process control and embedded systems, enabling future factories through innovative engineering methods.

His research specializations include cyber-physical production systems, industrial automation, smart manufacturing, IoT-enabled flexible manufacturing systems, complexity assessment in manufacturing, sustainable manufacturing, and reconfigurable automation systems. Harrison has produced over 200 publications, accumulating more than 3,000 citations. Key works include 'Engineering Methods and Tools for Cyber–Physical Automation Systems' by R. Harrison, D. Vera, and B. Ahmad (Proceedings of the IEEE, 2016; 235 citations); 'Industrial Cloud-Based Cyber-Physical Systems' by A.W. Colombo et al. (2014; 393 citations); 'Threat Modelling for Industrial Cyber Physical Systems in the Era of Smart Manufacturing' by M. Jbair, B. Ahmad, C. Maple, and R. Harrison (Computers in Industry, 2022; 156 citations); 'Complexity in Manufacturing Systems and Its Measures: A Literature Review' by B. Alkan et al. (European Journal of Industrial Engineering, 2018; 129 citations); and 'Contributions of Lean Six Sigma to Sustainable Manufacturing Requirements: An Industry 4.0 Perspective' by R. Titmarsh, F. Assad, and R. Harrison (Procedia CIRP, 2020; 103 citations). He has offered expert insights on UK engineering for ventilator manufacturing and skills for the Green Industrial Revolution, enhancing academic and industrial impact in automation technologies.