Francis Davis

Faculty Biography

Francis Davis is a Professor in Mechanical Engineering at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, with over twenty (20) years of experience in research, teaching, maintenance, repairs, and consultancy. He demonstrates exceptional leadership and management skills honed through administrative positions entrusted by the University's Management.He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, Greensboro, USA, and an MPhil in Mechanical Engineering, and a BSc (Hons) Degree in Mechanical Engineering, each from KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana. Professor Davis is a Fulbright Scholar; ALCOA Scholar and Kennedy Scholar all in the USA. His research interests are: automobile and maintenance engineering; design of experiment and modeling; design, analysis, and manufacturing of engineering product; monitoring of machining operations; and thermo-galvanic cell architecture. Professor Davis is well-read with over fifty (50) referred journal and conference publications.  He is a reviewer for a couple of journals including Applied Thermal Engineering, Scientific African, Journal of Science and Technology, African Journal of Applied Research, and International Journal of Industrial Engineering and Operations Management, and has also made significant contributions towards knowledge in several referred journal and conference publications. Frequently taught subjects include engineering drawing, statics, machine design, machine tool design, manufacturing processes, design optimization, instrumentation, maintenance engineering and production engineering and automobile engineering. He has coordinated several academic related programs including Student and Staff Exchange Program with North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University; Online Programs with Institute of Distance Learning, KNUST; Professional Master’s in Engineering - Industrial Operations Program; and Top Up Program in Mechanical Engineering. Davis is an external examiner for several universities (local and international); a visiting scholar at the Arizona State University, Tempe, USA, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA, and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, USA. He has also been a visiting lecturer at Madonna University, Elele, Nigeria and the Cape Coast Technical University, Cape Coast. He has also been involved in a number of technical activities and training at the local, national levels, and international levels in the area of mechanical engineering.  Davis is people-oriented person who believes in teamwork. He has the skills in possessing with a deeper commitment to both staff and students; seek to provide staff and students with opportunities for their personal development and growth, while remaining highly receptive to new ideas and creative thinking. He has served the University in various capacities including management of the University’s fleet of vehicles as Transport Engineer; Postgraduate Coordinator for the Department of Mechanical Engineering; and Principal Investigator for the International Accelerated Degree Program (3+1+1) in collaboration with Arizona State University under the sponsorship of the MasterCard Foundation. Presently, Davis is the Director-General of the Technology Consultancy Centre, a UNESCO Catergory II Centre of Excellence in Engineering Innovation, Manufacturing, Technology Transfer and Entreprenuership and also Chairman of the Committee tasked by the Vice-Chancellor to revamp the operations and commercialise the activities of the Transport Department to become financially viable entity in the University. He is also the University’s representative on the Automotive Skill Sector Body which is a collaboration between COTVET, International Labour Organisation and GIZ. Davis’ desire is to serve his University; Country; and the World; by positively influencing generation with exemplary leadership and life-long learning attitudes.