
Rendell Kheng Wah TAN
Profile
Biography
Rendell’s work experience in Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) over 26 years includes aircraft base and line maintenance, strategic planning, flight line operations, quality assurance, organizational development, aircraft acquisition, and aircraft fleet system engineering. He was seconded to Defence Science Technology Agency (DSTA) in United States as Singapore’s senior national representative on a US Defence aircraft developmental program. He then worked 6 years in ST Aerospace Engines and held positions as Director Quality, Assistant General Manager and Vice President. He joined Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) in 2014 as Director Centralized Labs, Quality and Safety, and Special Projects. In 2018, he transited to faculty as Senior Lecturer (Engineering Cluster), teaching Human Factors, Business Continuity Management and Aviation Legislation.
SIT Appointments
- Cluster/CCS Teaching & Learning Lead (ENG)–
- Director, Special Projects–
- Director, Professional Officers / Quality & Safety–
Education
- Master of Science in Aeronautical EngineeringNaval Postgraduate School (United State) , United States
- Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering (1st Class Honours)Nanyang Technological University , Singapore
Achievements
- Approval by Civil Aviation Authority of China for on-wing maintenance of GEnx-90 engine (first approval in China)–
- Top performing team for fleet management (integrated systems engineering team) in RSAF (2001, 2002, 2003)–
- MINDEF Defence Technological Prize (Team) for pioneering integrated systems engineering team in RSAF–
Professional Certification
- Advanced Certificate in Training and Assessments (ACTA)WSQ–
- Business Continuity Management System Expert ImplementerBCM Institute–
- Fire Safety ManagerSCDF–
- Specialist Diploma in Workplace, Health & Safety–
Corporate Experience
- Asst General Manager & Vice President, ST Engineering Aerospace Engines–
- Senior National Representative (Singapore), Joint Strike Fighter Program (United States)–
Research
Research Interests
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Human Factors in Maintenance
-
Sustaining Safety Resilience in Complex Organizations
-
Web-based Games as an Effective Pedagogy to Enhance Authentic Learning
Current Projects
- Application of Image Analysis to Detect Assembly Errors in a Turbofan CFM56 Engine– Present
Engine MRO repairs and overhauls aircraft engines, e.g. CFM56-7B for commercial airlines. All output engines undergo a final assembly and a dispatch visual inspection before delivering to the airline.
This is a proof of concept project, which requires the development of an image processing algorithm to assist the engineers in final visual inspection of the assembled engine. Given input images of a selected zonal area of the assembled engine (captured via a camera), the developed algorithm will automatically analyze and compare the given input image to a template image calculated from image library. The algorithm should highlight any potential errors e.g. missing/ loose parts, incorrect assembly/ positioning, foreign objects left behind) in the given image.
The project has the potential to be extended and developed into a physical fully-automated modular inspection cell, aided by robotic cameras.
- Chracterization of Sulfidation Permeability in Aircraft Engine Turbine Airfoils– Present
Objective: To develop non-destructive inspection capability to detect and characterize turbofan engines high pressure turbine blades internal sulfidation permeability for decision for re-installation to engine, send for repair/ restoration or send to scrap.
Publication
Journal Papers
Chin Pei Tan, Dora Howes, Rendell K. W. Tan & Karina M. Dancza (2021) Developing interactive oral assessments to foster graduate attributes in higher education, Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, DOI: 10.1080/02602938.2021.2020722 Developing interactive oral assessments to foster graduate attributes in higher education: Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education: Vol 0, No 0 (tandfonline.com)
Quality Functional Deployment as an Aircraft Design Tool. Naval Postgraduate School. Master of Science Thesis.
Conferences
The European Conference on Education 2019 July 19-21, London. Presented "Infusing Team Based Learning in Teaching Engineering Physics"
Asian Conference on Safety and Education (ACSEL) 2016, 13-15 July, Jeju, South Korea. Presented "Team Approach Towards System Safety in Laboratories, Enhancing Safety Culture". Team members: Dr Lim Kok Hwa, Dr Shen Lu and Mr Luke Loh.
Teaching
Teaching Modules
Aircraft Systems Engineering, BEng (Hons)
- ASE3308 - Human Factors
- ASE3101 - Aviation Legislation
- ASE2306 - Capstone Project
- ASE3206 - Integrated Work Study Programme
Air Transport Management, BSc (Hons)
- ATM2001 - Business Continuity Management
- ATM2013 - Aviation Human Factors
- ATM3200 - Capstone Project
Aerospace Engineering, BEng (Hons)
- AEE3001 - Integrated Work Study Programme
Past
- ASE1102 - Physics