Sustainable Engineering of Product and Manufacturing

PHD

The PhD in Sustainable Engineering of Products and Processes aims to train highly qualified professionals in this scientific field, equipping them to integrate technological companies and drive the sustainability of technological and business development within the European Area.

Mechanical Engineering, adapted to the 21^st century, faces challenges related to sustainability and the decarbonisation of the economy without compromising quality of life. There is an urgent need to train highly qualified professionals at the doctoral level, prepared for cutting-edge scientific and professional activities; to foster sustained progress in industry, research, and society at large; and, finally, to consolidate the competitiveness and technology of industrial sectors that are crucial for economic sustainability and general well-being, in alignment with the present and future industrial economy.

Programme Coordinator

(updating)

School

Technology and Management

City

Leiria

Language

English, Portuguese

Type

Morning & Afternoon

Length

3 years

Vacancies

Notice

Edital 2025 (PT Doc)

DGES certification

Link to Registration

Young engineer concentrating on sketch of project

Objectives

Programme

Modeling the impact of each product on the environment, from design to its end of life or circularity;
Assess the recycling capability of product’s materials or parts at their end of life;
Design new and sustainable products;
Model new and sustainable products;
Plan more sustainable means of manufacturing;
Manage the manufacturing of new products with sustainability as a goal;
Managing new product development projects with a focus on sustainability;
Adapting means of production to renewable energy systems.

Study Plan

ECTS: 180

1. Year
2. and 3. Years

Name

Semester

ECTS

Length

Advanced Seminars in Engineering

7,5

30 h

C1. A new paradigm: prospective and comparative analysis of developments and trends in Sustainable Product and Process Engineering solutions, in the context of digital transformation and subsequent ongoing industrial revolution, integrating aspects of human, technological, organizational, and sustainable nature, as well as concepts emerging design of the components/systems to be manufactured.
C2. Multidimensional analysis of the respective design, implementation, and operation processes, identifying competitive advantages and market opportunities.
C3. Future solutions: identification and analysis of future technological challenges for various sectors of the target industry, including those associated with the coexistence/integration of solutions in Sustainable Product and Process Engineering.

Industrial Framework Seminars

7,5

30 h

C1. Analysis of successful developments in Sustainable Product and Process Engineering solutions, in the context of the various sustainability paradigms facing the industry, as a result of the national and international political-economic situation;
C2. Presentation of case studies successfully developed in an industrial environment, evaluating the respective design, implementation and operation processes, integrating human, technological, quality, logistical, environmental and organizational aspects, as well as presentation of new challenges/case studies that imply the application of emerging design concepts for the components/systems to be manufactured;
C3. Future trends: identification and analysis of future technological challenges for various sectors of the target industry, including those associated with the coexistence/integration of solutions in Sustainable Product and Process Engineering.

Electives

30 h

Students must choose 2 os the following optionals:

Product Ecodesign – 7,5 ECTS
Syllabus

C1. Development of Sustainable Products.
C2. Sustainable Technologies and Processes.
C3. Environmental Aspects, Tools and Strategies of Ecodesign.
C4. Product Ecodesign.
C5. Ecodesign by Processes.
C6. Ecodesign Regulatory and Legal Requirements.

Risk Management and Oportunities on Sustainability of Products and Processes – 7,5 ECTS
Syllabus

1. Principles of Risk and Opportunity Management.
2. The Pillars of Sustainability
3. Risk and Opportunity Management Methodologies
4. Principles of Sustainability Management
5. Risk management strategies with an impact on products and processes
6. Risk Management and Sustainability and their impact on the SDGs
7. Risk Management Methodology: Analysing case studies.

Computational Mechanics and Optimization – 7,5 ECTS
Syllabus

C1. Non-linear problems with finite element method
C2. Contact and impact problems
C3. Buckling and post-buckling
C4. Multi-criteria optimization
C5. Evolutionary optimization

Service Science, Management and Engineering – 7,5 ECTS
Syllabus

1. Service Approach
1.1 Service dominant logic perspective
1.2 Process modelling: design thinking
1.4 Information systems and value co-creation
1.3 Value-oriented systems management
1.4 Service science methodological tools
2. Service and Logistics Management
2.1 Service operations management
2.2 Process management in services
2.3 Distribution systems management
2.4 Supply chain management
3. Service ecosystems for value cocreation
3.2 Integration of resources and services exchanging
3.3 Institutions and institutional arrangements in ecosystems
3.4 Coopetition technology enabled in service ecosystems.

Sustainable Energy Systems – 7,5 ECTS
Syllabus

1. Energy in the World
2. Fossil energy sources and decarbonization needs
3. Energy production, transport and distribution processes
3.1 Primary energy and final energy
3.2 Hydrogen as an energy vector and its technological implications
4. Technologies for decarbonization
4.1 Renewable energy resources
4.2 Efficient use of energy and sustainable energy alternatives
4.3 Carbon capture and storage technologies
5. Decarbonization solutions in different sectors (agriculture, industry, buildings, transport and services)
6. Methodology for carrying out energy audits and energy consumption rationalization plans: analysis of case studies.

Material Sustainability and Recycling – 7,5 ECTS
Syllabus

1. Fundamental concepts of sustainable development and circular economy
2. Life Cycle Assessment of materials
3. Types of materials and their main chemical and physical characteristics
4. Renewable materials and metals, and their recyclability

Manufacturing Processes Sustainability – 7,5 ECTS
Syllabus

C1. Introduction and analysis of the most recent technological developments in manufacturing processes, considering subtractive, formative and additive approaches, with potential for application in production solutions for Sustainable Product and Process Engineering;
C2. Introduction of basic LifeCycle Assessment (LCA) concepts, aiming at the rational use of resources and observing the principles underlying the product’s ecodesign;
C3. Introduction to the analysis of the viability of the product-manufacturing process binomial according to the Triple-Bottom Line principle and safeguarding the interests of all stakeholders involved in a collaborative development logic.
C4. Future trends: identification and analysis of technological processes for the various sectors of the surrounding industry, including constant technological surveillance of applicable solutions in Sustainable Product and Process Engineering.

Thesis Planning

45 h

C1. Analysis of problems in a real context
C2. Analysis of the state of the art
C3. Product and process planning and management
C4. Thesis plan

2. and 3. Years
ID	Name	Semester	ECTS	Length
	Thesis	Pluriannual	120	300 h
Develop scientific research. Prepare and write a PhD thesis. Present and defend the thesis work to a jury.

Entry Requirements

Holders of a Master of Engineering degree or legal equivalent;
Holders of a bachelor’s degree (with 5 years) in Engineering or related areas, or legal equivalent, provided that they hold a particularly relevant academic or scientific curriculum that is recognized as attesting to the capacity to carry out this cycle of studies by the Technical-Scientific Council of the School of Technology and Management;
Holders of an academic, scientific or professional curriculum, which is recognized by the Technical-Scientific Council of the School of Technology and Management as attesting to the ability to carry out this cycle of studies;
Candidates who meet one of the requirements set out in Article 30(1)(b) and (c) / Decree-Law 65/2018, of 16 August.

Accreditation

State: Accreditated
Number of years of accreditation: 3
Publication Date: 17/01/2025
A3ES Accreditation

Online Application

Use the button bellow to start your application.

How to apply

Application Fee

General contingent: 60€

International contingent: 60€

Enrolment Fee

General contingent: 50€

International contingent: 100€

Tuition Fee

General contingent: 2750€

International contingent: 4000€

Sustainable Engineering of Product and Manufacturing

Sustainable Engineering of Product and Manufacturing

Programme Introduction

Programme Coordinator

School

City

Language

Type

Length

Vacancies

Notice

DGES certification

Objectives

Study Plan

Entry Requirements

Accreditation

Online Application

Application Fee

Enrolment Fee

Tuition Fee