University of Brighton changemaker on 2020 inspirational women list

The 30 women on the list are being announced over six days (five per day) via Twitter, LinkedIn and The Manufacturer website. Yan Wang will be featured on Tuesday, 15 December. Links below:

• www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-manufacturer/
• twitter.com/TheManufacturer
• twitter.com/KTN_Mfg/status/1337403880452333570

Dr Wang - Principal Lecturer in the University of Brighton’s School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematics - is one of the UK’s leading researchers in remanufacturing. This moves away from resource-guzzling 'single use' processes to find effective ways to re-use components multiple times in rebuilding products to 'as new' working status.

As a way to reduce raw material consumption, cut energy consumption and slash carbon emissions, remanufacturing is a growing trend globally driving efforts to achieve a more circular and environmentally sustainable economic model. Because most remanufacturing takes place in the country where products are used, it also provides jobs in communities across the UK.

Dr Yan Wang

“Remanufacturing is the process to return end-of-life products to a like-new condition with a warranty to match. It is an essential part of circular economy – and retains the value of the end-of-life products,” says Dr Wang. “Women have been under-represented in manufacturing at all levels, and increasing the representation of women in manufacturing leadership can bring a strong business case to industry.”

Dr Wang retains important links to her native China, including being Visiting Professor at Wuhan University of Science and Technology, and Visiting Scholar at China’s National Key Laboratory for Remanufacturing. She believes China is potentially the largest market for remanufactured products and services, with the UK well-placed in a post-Brexit world as a world leaders in the field.

While her research is helping spur a new global manufacturing ethos and changing business models, Dr Wang's work has also resulted in her being granted nearly a dozen patents. These include innovative solutions to solve problems at Rolls Royce related to tooling for small volumes and a large variety of component products with complex geometry.