Andrew Graves

Research interests

I am a mechanical engineer and political scientist. My involvement with Formula 1 & 2 motor racing led to early research affiliations with _MIT’s International Motor Vehicle Programme._Since moving to Bath in 1994 he has set up research programmes into LEAN & AGILE MANUFACTURING (pioneered by the Toyota Production System). Key projects include: 

ILIPT (Intelligent Logistics for Innovative Product Technologies)/5DayCar - this EU project collaborated with 30 leading European automotive suppliers to focus on optimising performance throughout the supply chain, linking with Bath’s earlier concept work on the  3DayCar programme. 

Agile Construction Initiative (ACI) - a project focusing on benchmarking performance improvement within the construction industry. Sponsors of the project have included - HM Treasury, Highways Agency, Balfour Beatty, Geoffrey Osborne, Atkins Global, Carillion and Lafarge. 

Lean Aerospace Initiative  – this research comes from a long association with MIT’s_Lean Aerospace Initiative_ (LAI) and a recent partnership with the  Lean Flight Initiative  (LFI), aims to develop Lean principles among aircraft operators, expanding research into commercial airline operations.