Looking back to last year, Dr. Morteza Tabatabaeipour, Assistant Professor in Advanced Manufacturing at the School of Engineering, Ulster University, served on the judging panel for the Manufacturing Excellence Awards 2025. A holder of a PhD in Engineering from KU Leuven, Tabatabaeipour brought deep expertise in smart manufacturing technologies to the awards' evaluation process, spanning robotics, artificial intelligence, and advanced inspection systems.

His research encompassed structural health monitoring, non-destructive testing and evaluation, ultrasonics and acoustics, NDE automation, machine learning, and digital manufacturing, a broad and technically demanding portfolio that positioned him as a leading voice in the application of intelligent systems to industrial manufacturing. His work integrated robotics, AI-driven process optimisation, and Industry 4.0 solutions to enhance quality control, automation, and real-time structural integrity across advanced manufacturing environments.

A recipient of the EPSRC Innovation Launchpad Network+ Researchers in Residence scheme, Tabatabaeipour collaborated with the National Composites Centre to develop machine learning-based models for processing 3D point cloud data and automating ultrasonic robotic inspection in composite manufacturing. This initiative reflected a career defined not only by theoretical research but by the direct translation of advanced methodologies into practical industrial applications, with measurable implications for quality assurance and production efficiency.

His involvement in the Manufacturing Excellence Awards brought a perspective shaped by both academic rigour and applied industrial research. Entries assessed under his scrutiny benefited from evaluation informed by a thorough understanding of where robotics, AI, and digital manufacturing are converging to reshape production processes across global industry.

His participation reinforced the Manufacturing Excellence Awards' commitment to a judging panel that reflects the cutting edge of manufacturing research and technological innovation.

Visit the official Manufacturing Excellence Awards website to explore award categories, review the judging panel, and subscribe to the newsletter for updates and exclusive coverage from Ireland's manufacturing sector.