Institute for Manufacturing

Institute For Manufacturing

The Institute for Manufacturing (IfM) is part of the University of Cambridge’s Department of Engineering. It brings together expertise in management, technology and policy to address the full spectrum of issues which can help industry and governments create sustainable economic growth.

World leading research

IfM research helps:

• Companies develop life-changing products and services, build better businesses, create meaningful jobs, and improve the environment for the future.
• Governments foster innovation and enterprise to deliver social and economic benefits.

Transferred to organisations and governments

The IfM works with some of the world’s leading multinational companies (including Atos, Rolls-Royce, BAE-Systems, Caterpillar, BP, GSK, Mars, Linde, Shell and Unilever), medium-sized companies and over 1,000 SMEs and early stage ventures located in the UK. They also help national and regional governments to help create conditions that allow science and technology to be commercialised successfully. 

Research findings are disseminated and transferred to industry and governments by its dissemination arm, IfM Education and Consultancy Services (IfM ECS). IfM ECS specialise in consultancy services and executive and professional development to assist policymakers and manufacturing and technology companies worldwide to create and capture value more effectively. All of the training that they offer is based on the new ideas and approaches that they have developed in-house. IfM ECS gifts all profits to the University of Cambridge to fund future research.

Short courses

IfM short courses develop delegates’ knowledge and practical skills to have a direct impact in the workplace. They introduce participants to IfM tools and techniques, putting them into practice in highly interactive, hands-on courses. Short courses are either run as open courses at the IfM in Cambridge, UK, or can be run as bespoke courses tailored to meet specific requirements and delivered in-company.

Bespoke programmes

Organisations can work with the IfM to develop highly customised executive and professional development programmes which develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours needed to ensure they meet their goals. Bespoke programmes usually take place over a 4 to 6-month period, comprising of 3 or 4 one-week modules, for groups of up to 30 delegates. They are delivered by leading academics, researchers, industry experts and associates, learning and development experts and, if appropriate, experts from your company.