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Tayisepi, Nicholas (DIng)
Nicholas Tayisepi holds a Master of Engineering in Manufacturing Systems and
Operations Management and a Bachelor of Technology (Hons) in Industrial and
Manufacturing Engineering, both from the National University of Science and Technology
in Zimbabwe. He also holds a Higher National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, an
Executive Diploma in Business Leadership, and a National Diploma in Technical and
Vocational Education. Nicholas has published a total of 16 peer-reviewed papers and
conference proceedings. He is currently employed at the National University of Science
and Technology in Zimbabwe where he is the incumbent departmental chairperson for the
Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering.
The candidate developed a new methodology and a tool for predicting the specific cutting
and total machining energy used during the turning of Ti6Al4V titanium alloy. The tool is
based on solving an optimisation problem as regards the cutting strategy that aims to
minimise energy use for a specific manufacturing outcome. The study showed that the
cutting strategy may be optimised for most efficient energy use for various different
outcomes, including appropriate surface integrity, lowest tool wear and best productivity.
The predictive tool is based on and validated by an extensive experimental programme.
Supervisor: Prof RF Laubscher
Co-Supervisor: Prof T Oosthuizen
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