Welcome as a PhD candidate Matthew Anderson!
- Post by: Tobias Larsson
- 6th October 2025
- No Comment
We are pleased to welcome Matthew Anderson as a new industrial PhD candidate in Mechanical Engineering at Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH), starting October 2025.
Matthew will be supervised by Professor Dr. Tobias Larsson (BTH), Professor Dr. Marco Bertoni (BTH), and Professor Dr. Shaun West (Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Switzerland). His PhD research focuses on the progression to smart factory transformation, examining how industrial organizations evolve from conventional production systems toward digitally integrated, data-driven, and resilient operations.
As an industrial PhD candidate, Matthew conducts his research embedded within Sulzer Ltd (www.sulzer.com), where he serves as Head of Digital Manufacturing Technology / Operations Business Partner. His work bridges academia and industry, generating insights on the digitalization of manufacturing environments.
WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND?
My name is Matthew Anderson, and I am passionate about connecting operations, technology, and organizational strategy to shape the factories of the future.
I currently serve as Head of Digital Manufacturing Technology / Operations Business Partner at Sulzer Ltd., leading initiatives in digital transformation, cybersecurity, and operational excellence across a global manufacturing network. My earlier roles in data analytics, smart technologies, and operations systems management have given me a exposure to how digital transformation strengthens industrial performance and resilience.
I am a Chartered Engineer (CEng) and Chartered IT Professional (CITP), holding academic qualifications from the University of Birmingham and the UK Open University. Over the past decade, I have published and presented internationally on Industry 4.0, digital twins, operational technology governance, and human-centric smart factories.
My professional journey has always focused on translating technological potential into operational reality. Ensuring that digital initiatives enhance both people and continuous improvement.
WHAT WILL BE YOUR RESEARCH?
My PhD explores how established manufacturing firms progress toward smart factory maturity, integrating technology, people, and process transformation to achieve sustainable operational excellence.
The research aims to:
- Identify the enablers of IT/OT convergence and digital readiness within complex industrial environments.
- Develop and validate a Smart Factory Progression Framework that defines maturity stages and transformation pathways.
- Examine how governance, culture, and workforce capability influence the pace and sustainability of smart factory adoption.
The outcome will be a practical and validated framework supporting both academic and industrial communities in navigating the shift from conventional production systems to intelligent, connected, and adaptive operations.
WHAT WILL YOU BRING BTH AND THE COMMUNITY?
I bring an industrial practitioner’s perspective, grounded in the realities of manufacturing transformation.
My focus is on connecting research with implementation—building frameworks that work not just in theory but in daily operations. At BTH, I look forward to contributing through collaborative research, knowledge exchange, and by helping strengthen the bridge between academic insight and industrial practice.