This award is given to the best Research Paper presented on Welding Metallurgy, Modelling, Extensive Testing presented during the National Welding Seminar of the Institute.

Under his inspiring leadership, Advani-Oerlikon grew into an extensive countrywide organisation, producing and marketing wide range of welding equipment and consumables. He also founded Semiconductors Ltd. at Poona. During his tenure the company diversified into various field including electronics, reprography, management consultancy, computer services, and travel and tourism. He also guided the setting up of Welding Technology Centre at Bombay, two Divisional R & D Centres and one corporate R&D Centre at Poona.

Mr. Mirchandani was the President of the Indian Institute of Welding during the years 1975-1977. He was Vice President of the International Institute of Welding for four years until 1980. He attended several Annual Assemblies of this International body and also two Annual Welding Meets of the American Welding Society. He was of the firm opinion that research and development is the root of industrial progress and this prompted him to institute the Advani-Oerlikon Research Award in the Indian Institute of Welding.

• The Award will be presented for the best research paper presented during the annual event of the Institute
• At least 50% of the work should not have been reported anywhere else before.
• Clear definition of the proposed work.
• Purpose objectives of the work and its industrial and /or academic importance  of work
• Expected benefits qualitative or quantitative.
• Originality of approach /planning of work
• Literature survey, quality of analysis done, nature and relevance of information collected.
• Innovation or ingenuity in setting up of facilities for carrying out the proposed work.
• Method of experimentation/investigation carried out. – Data collection and analysis.
• Accuracy of the results & how logical are the conclusions – its relevance to the objectives specified by the author.
• The evaluation of all the eligible Research Category papers will be carried out independently by 3 peer-reviewers based on the following Criteria for Evaluation.

• Definition of the work - its objective, scope and need.
• Is the purpose well-defined?
• Is the work original?
• Is the industrial and/or academic significance of the work outlined?
• Are the expected benefits - qualitative or quantitative - described?

• Originality of concept and approach in investigating the problem - How scientific and systematic is the approach?
• Literature survey - Quality of survey done
• Is the nature of information collected sufficient and relevant?
• Comparison between the present and published data - Any important observations made from the comparison?
• Innovation or ingenuity in setting up of experimental facilities for carrying out investigations – Any important additional information generated from this innovative method which otherwise would not have been possible?
• Appropriateness of the experimental/analytical methods employed. Accuracy of the results obtained?  Any better experimental methods available?

What:

• Data interpretation and analysis – Is the method of data analysis the most appropriate?
• How logical are the conclusions? Their relevance to the objectives specified by the author/s.
• Other findings, if any, of importance other than what was specified, as a by-product during the course of investigations.
• Overall style and effectiveness in paper writing.

Weightage:

WHY - 30%, HOW - 30%, WHAT - 40%

Judging

• Tech. Committee segregate the papers into three categories
• Research, Fabrication and Repair
• Each paper is evaluated by three separate judges (Professors, Researchers, Welding engineers from various fabrication industries, consultants, consumable manufacturers etc.) for each category
• Copies of the papers are sent to the judges
• Their evaluation is compiled and normalised with respect to Judge’s average and the global average
• Care is taken to avoid the judge being one of the authors of the papers being evaluated