Dr Ahmed Al-Ashaab hold PhD in manufacturing engineering and MSc in Computer Integrated Manufacturing from Loughborough University. He is a highly effective Reader in Lean Product Development with over 20 years of strategic experience leveraging academic research to drive transformation within the manufacturing sector. Specialist in the integration and hands-on implementation of Lean Product Development (LeanPD), Set-based Concurrent Engineering (SBCE), Agile Hardware Development (Scrum/Sprint), Remanufacturing and digital transformation within product lifecycles. Successfully delivered large-scale process transformation and performance uplift for tier-one global partners, including Rolls-Royce, Airbus, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), Atlas Copco Getreg, Caltec, OTT-HydroMet, MOOG. Dr Al-Ashaab has deep technical expertise in leveraging Industry 4.0 technologies—notably Digital Twin, IoT Network, and Generative AI CAD—to establish scalable LeanPD environments and optimise industrial performance.
Dr. Yuri holds a PhD in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Digital Transformation, and has earned certificates in Digital Transformation and Data Analytics from Stanford University and Financial Analysis from the University of Oxford. She currently serves as a Researcher in the Department of Computer Science and Technology at the University of Cambridge, and as Co-Director of the Cam AI Lab. Previously, she was a Scholar Fellow and Professorial Committee Boarder at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, and a Professor at the London School of Innovation. From 2021 to 2025, she served consecutively as a United Nations Advisor Boarder on Artificial Intelligence. Her research and applications focus on advancing the integration and innovation of AI/ML technologies in the digital transformation of businesses, as well as in critical sectors such as healthcare, retail, advanced manufacturing, energy and FinTech.
A mechanical engineer with academic and industrial exposure across manufacturing systems, product development, and operations-focused engineering. Holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and an MSc in Engineering and Management of Manufacturing Systems from Cranfield University, with training centred on linking engineering decisions to manufacturing and organisational performance. Professional experience includes work at Kennametal within a manufacturing and design engineering environment, contributing to cutting tool development activities, GD&T application, drawing interpretation, and structured engineering documentation. Academic industry collaboration includes participation in a lean and agile product development project with Atlas Copco, applying set-based concurrent engineering and systems-level problem analysis within multidisciplinary teams. Currently progressing toward mechanical and industrial engineering roles within manufacturing-driven industries, with a focus on building practical engineering capability in design, process improvement, and data-informed decision-making. I am leading the work of the appliaction of Smart Lean Product Development and the application of Generative AI CAD.
