Advancements in Delphi Techniques for Directing the Planning of Manufacturing Engineering Research

The Seminar focuses on Delphi techniques to inform and direct research planning in manufacturing towards 2020. The Delphi technique facilitates convergence of expert opinion on complex subjects. The technique was used to focus on the future of manufacturing in Europe, to try to assess the direction of new research and help prepare strategies for European research to maintain European manufacturing competitiveness. Delphi method basically uses multiple rounds of face to face interviews and re-assessment of responses by post or email in order to reach consensus among the experts involved in the study. This process allows the experts to revise their original answers in the light of replies from other experts. It is expected that during this process the range of the responses will reduce and the group of experts will converge towards an answer that they all agree on.