One of the major challenges of modern industry is to address the need for sustainable product development and manufacturing. International legislation and increasing costs of fiscal instruments such as the landfill tax now aim to force producers to reduce the environmental impacts of their products and processes.

Accelerating globalisation and industrialisation continue to exacerbate the complexity of sustainability. Manufacturers must attain simultaneous high quality and lower costs to maintain their competitiveness, yet labour, energy and material costs continue to rise.

This module addresses these global concerns by studying lifecycle considerations for sustainable and profitable product development and manufacture. Environmental legislation will also be studied along with product development strategies that will enable industry to meet these increasingly severe requirements. The associated industry presentations, expert guest speakers and industry-based assignments maximise the usefulness of the acquired skills in a real-life industry setting.

The overarching theme of the module is creating, capturing, and delivering value with a technology strategy.

The lectures will cover: 

• how should one define a strategy for a technology driven company
• how should such a strategy differ from a technology strategy
• what are the tools that can support developing a technology strategy
• how to make innovation happen • What are the models to make innovation happen

The following will be taught in this module: 

• introduction, scope and content of strategic technology management, strategic analysis framework, and innovation management
• an overview of technology management
• an overview of Industry 4.0 Technologies
• the Technology S curves & the determinants of industry evolution
• frameworks for strategic analysis
• technology Roadmapping
• an overview of innovation management
• introduction to Model S for small initiative
• introduction to Model R for Repeatable Innovations
• introduction to Model C for all other innovations
• conclusions and lessons learnt

This module will be delivered as a flipped classroom with online material to deliver an understanding of the role of design in engineering organisations, and in-person lectures and tutorials on using design tools for specific design and design management challenges and why they are used.

The module will teach the following:

• what is design, and how engineering design practice is conducted
• design development approaches and aspects that influence decisions.
• the relationship between Design activities and design management activities.
• design methods for researching real-world problems.
• design methods for the specification of solutions
• concept generation methods
• concept evaluation methods
• design for Sustainability, Production, Reliability and Design of Experiments
• teamwork and collaboration in engineering design practice

This module aims to enable students to understand the concepts of virtual product modelling and techniques used to visualise products before they are fully designed and manufactured.

The module covers: an introduction to basic modelling, visualisation and evaluation techniques creating models, parts and assemblies; The representations that underpin modern CAED systems (wireframe, surface, CSG and BRep), basic computer graphics (homogeneous transformations), data exchange, information integration, product data management, economics of CAD/CAM systems (cost breakdown, potential benefits, improving cost/benefit ratio), basic systems selection and justification and organisational impact and system management.

At the end of this module students will be able to:

• demonstrate the ability to use a commercially available CAD system by creating 3-D product models and appropriate visualisations for evaluation
• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of product modelling and visualisation by demonstrating an ability to provide 2D/3D part and assembly drawings, and a variety of sectioned/dimensioned views of part/assembly models
• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of product evaluation techniques by identifying and describing suitable product evaluation techniques such as FEA and utilise for evaluation
• describe and discuss the functionality and benefits that CAED systems can bring to product development by identifying and justifying a CAED solution for an industrial problem

Assessment and feedback is in the form of coursework (100%).

This module aims to prepare students with the knowledge, skills and experience to become competent members of global/distributed design teams.

It covers the nature of distributed design, including: Benefits and issues relating to distributed design, design methodologies; Extended supply chains (design and manufacture); Distributed team structures; Comparison of co-located and distributed design teams; design to manufacture, distributed design expertise, different distributed design scenarios, e.g. cross-site, cross-company, national, international, etc.

At the end of this module students will be able to:

• demonstrate knowledge of distributed design by explaining the concepts of distributed design engineering by discussing how the benefits and issues related to distributed design compare to those of co-located design
• demonstrate understanding of the management of distributed design projects by describing management tools and techniques for successfully managing distributed design, applying these tools and techniques to carry out distributed design project work and showing how these tools and techniques can overcome issues relating to distributed design
• describe appropriate technology and how it can be used to support distributed design by applying the use of technology to successfully carry out distributed design project work

Assessment and feedback is in the form of coursework submissions (70%) and project presentations (30%).

This module aims to develop a theoretical and practical understanding of design form and aesthetics.

The module covers:

• traditions, evolution and trends in design form and aesthetics in the context of industrial design
• principles and practices: form; colour; surface and texture
• designing form and aesthetics in practice including concept sketching and imaging - advanced freehand sketching, digital tablet sketching, transferring sketching to CAD
• design refinement and digital modelling (Rhino 3D) including surface modelling and curvature, NURBS surface modelling, visual curvature analysis, basic rendering visualisation
• communicating form and aesthetics - techniques for presenting form and aesthetic ideas and concepts to users, development teams and clients

At the end of this module students will be able to:

• apply design form and aesthetics skills and techniques in project work with a focus on form, colour, surface and texture through the use of freehand sketching, digital and physical modelling. Demonstrate an ability to produce freehand sketches, digital and physical models which clearly show application of form, colour, surface and texture techniques
• demonstrate an understanding of a range of methods for communicating design and form approaches (verbal, graphic and prototype)

Assessment and feedback is in the form of preparing a Design Folio. This will include a mid-project design folio presentation (30%), a final presentation of visuals, prototypes etc. and critique of project work (30%) as well as submission of the design folio detailing stages and outputs of the design process (40%).

This module aims to provide students with theoretical and practical understanding of Human Centred Design (HCD).

The module covers:

• the evolution of HCD and its various approaches including ergonomics, cognition, user-centered design, people-centered design, design emotion, participatory design, co-design, design ethnography and design anthropology
• ontological and epistemological perspectives and assumptions in HCD such as different ‘world-views’ of people, objects and interaction
• research methods for HCD including interviews, focus groups, lab experiments, participant and non-participant observation, critical making/‘provotyping’

At the end of the module students will be able to:

• apply appropriate HCD tools, methods and operations in design practice
• select and provide rationale for appropriate HCD approaches within a variety of scenarios
• apply and communicate HCD approaches to a research and design project with tangible demonstration of methods in process and practice
• communicate HCD approaches verbally to an audience to convey its value within product development and innovation
• communicate design output visually through the documentation of research, process rationale and solution in design folio

Assessment and feedback is in the form of a project progress presentation in class (30%) and submission of project (70%).

This module aims for students to integrate and apply design, manufacturing and engineering management knowledge and skills to an industry based product and process development project and to develop project management skills.

The module consists of a team-based industrial project where an outline project brief is set by an industrial client. The team is expected to manage all aspects of the project through to a finished solution. This can be a product, system or process depending on the nature of the project. Teams meet with academic staff and industrial clients regularly through the project.

At the end of this module students will be able to:

• have in-depth understanding and knowledge of products and management practices in industry
• critically review and evaluate products and management practices of the particular company and the business impact of proposed solution
• demonstrate knowledge and ability in applying and using various analysis and modelling tools and techniques
• demonstrate project planning and management, presentation, consulting and team working skills
• plan, control and lead an industrial project from inception to completion
• evidence achieving deliverables which meet the client company requirements

Assessment and feedback includes a project report, a presentation to the client and any other deliverables specified in the project brief.

The aim of the individual project is to allow students to combine the skills learned in other modules of the course and apply them within a significant project in a specific area of design, manufacture, or engineering management. This will be achieved through students carrying out work into a particular topic relating to their course and preparing a dissertation that documents the project.

On completion of the module the student is expected to be able to:

• define a valid project in a cutting-edge field of study relevant to the student’s degree – with an appropriate methodology and work plan for the project
• plan, manage and complete project, involving where appropriate technical analysis and independent critical thinking. This involves giving a thorough, logical and critical review of the subject matter; using appropriate tools, processes and levels of analysis in the project and applying project management techniques to manage a successful project
• document their project using suitable presentation techniques (such as language, figures, writing, layout, structure etc.); showing clear evidence of the value of the project and its outcomes and describing the project with clarity

Based on the work of a project, a student will submit an individual dissertation that will account for 90% of the final mark for the class. An interim project justification report will account for the remaining 10% of the mark.

This module aims to provide a series of strategic frameworks for managing high-technology businesses. The main focus is on the acquisition of a set of powerful analytical tools which are critical for the development of a technology strategy as an integral part of business strategy. These tools can provide a guiding framework for deciding which technologies to invest in, how to structure those investments and how to anticipate and respond to the behaviour of competitors, suppliers, and customers. The course should be of particular interest to those interested in managing a business for which technology is likely to play a major role, and to those interested in consulting or venture capital.

At the end of this module students will be able to:

• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the role and importance of technology in business strategy formulation process
• Develop the ability to critically assess concepts, tools and techniques of managing technology for both stable and turbulent business environments
• Evaluate complexity and develop appropriate technology strategy models for specific cases

Grades will be determined by class participation assessed through four two-page papers on case studies, which may be written in groups of 4 people (40%), and an individual final technology strategy report based on an in-depth exploration of technology strategy in an assigned industry (60%). There is no final exam.

This module aims to introduce the basic principles and techniques of engineering risk management and demonstrates the appropriate application of this knowledge within an engineering context.

The module covers: Risk definitions and basic risks in engineering; Risk management processes; Reliability - achieving reliability; Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety (RAMS) cycle; failure rate; Mean Time Between Failure; Mean Time to Fail; Mean Life; failure stages within bathtub distribution; downtime; repair time and availability; Risk classification - failure rate; severity and detection; As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP); Risk identification - Failure Modes and Affects Analysis; Hazard and Operability Study; Fault and Event Tree Analysis; Risk-based decision making – uncertainty, decision trees, Pareto optimality, Analytic Hierarchy Process and Risk legislation and litigation in engineering.

At the end of this module students will be able to:

• demonstrate awareness of and ability to make general evaluations of risk issues in the context of the particular specialisation, including health & safety, environmental and commercial risk
• demonstrate awareness of relevant regulatory requirements governing engineering activities
• demonstrate ability to work with information that may be incomplete or uncertain, quantify the effect of this on the design and, where appropriate, use theory or experimental research to mitigate deficiencies

Assessment and feedback is in the form of a group coursework to show understanding of the risk management process in practice (100% for group contribution and submission of main reports).

This module aims to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the key principles, concepts, tools and techniques of total quality management and continuous improvement together with an awareness of how these can be used to design and deliver an integrated continuous improvement programme.

It covers an Introduction to Total Quality Management including definitions, basic elements and quality costing; ISO Quality Management System Standards; Quality improvement tools; Reliability Engineering and Continuous Improvement Concepts (FMEA, Lean methodologies, Kaizen, Poka Yoke, Theory of constraints).

At the end of this module students will be able to:

• understand the key principles, concepts, tools and techniques of total quality management and continuous improvement
• apply key principles, concepts, tools and techniques of total quality management and continuous improvement, including planning for real-life application of tools and techniques
• formulate improvement strategies within a particular context

Assessment and feedback is in the form of one group work (a case study report, 40%) and one individual coursework (a journal article, 60%).

This module aims to introduce students to the theories and principles of Systems Thinking. The module also introduces the methods, tools and techniques for modelling, analysing, improving and designing systems in a variety of organisations including industrial, commercial and public sector.

The module covers: Systems theory, concepts and approaches; Hard and soft systems analysis and systems dynamics; Systems and organisational performance – including leadership in a systems environment and ‘design’ in a systems environment and Practical application of Systems Thinking.

At the end of this module students will be able to:

• show clearer understanding and knowledge of hard and soft approaches and how they can be used to deal with complexity and system behaviour in a business context
• develop understanding of fundamental cybernetic principles that form the foundations of Checkland’s Soft System Methodology and Beer’s Viable System Model
• develop knowledge and skills in systems analysis and business process modelling
• critically evaluate the most appropriate methodology to model, analyse and design engineering/business systems across a range of organisations
• demonstrate an understanding of how to model a business system and to develop a solution to solve a business system problem
• develop an awareness of the importance of system approaches in management interventions

Assessment and feedback is in the form of a group presentation and one coursework in the form of a reflective diary.

This module aims to provide students with an introduction to the fundamentals of advanced materials, characterisation and advanced surface engineering. The module also covers advanced machining processes and technologies and the principles and practices of rapid prototyping and manufacturing.

The module covers:

• severe plastic deformation, materials properties and characterisation
• advances in Machining including the machining of hard materials, high-speed machining, precision grinding technology, ultra-precision diamond turning and grinding technology
• principles and practice of Layered Manufacturing
• advanced Surface Engineering including physical-chemical functionalisation, electro-deposition, CVD, PVD, tools/mould treatment, nano- and multi-layered coating.

At the end of this module students will be able to:

• describe processes of materials selection, characterisation, ultra-precision machining, rapid prototyping and advanced surface engineering
• demonstrate know-how on key processing parameters and show numerical and analytical skills relating to the materials and process selections and parameter setting
• identify key process parameters/variables in relation to process control and product quality
• specify machines or manufacturing systems for the manufacture/creation of specified products/models or to propose design solutions for a manufacturing machine/system to address the manufacturing requirements identified

Assessment and feedback is in the form of four pieces of coursework (25% each).

This module aims to develop a detailed understanding of the concept of remanufacture and its industrial application as well as new developments in the area. It explores the potential impact of remanufacture on a circular economy as well as the enablers and barriers.

The module covers: Remanufacture concepts & significance (including history, drivers, issues, future developments); Design for remanufacturing; Reverse logistics; Remanufacture disassembly; Lean remanufacture/Remanufacture Cleaning; Novel remanufacture tool and techniques.

At the end of this module students will be able to:

• demonstrate an understanding of remanufacturing concepts and its significance (including with respect to a circular economy) plus the major issues in operating remanufacture
• technically analyse products’ status plus remanufacturing operations in order to enhance performance
• demonstrate an understanding of various techniques in sustainable design
• demonstrate understanding of major Design-for-remanufacture (DFRem) concepts and approaches and apply these

Assessment and feedback is in the form of two assignments:

• (50%) this will be a report written in the format of an academic journal
• (50%) this project involves the student carrying out a detailed analysis of the remanufacturing approaches within the context of a chosen remanufacturing organisation in order to enhance operational effectiveness

The module will cover the following topics: 

• mechatronic system design process: Product/system design specifications (PDS), concept generation and selection, mechatronic system design and flow chart diagrams.
• sensing and actuation: Sensing theory, sensor selection, drive design, motor control. 
• control systems: Understand and apply control theory in a mechatronic system design.
• hardware design: Processor architecture, embedded computing platforms, interface, I/Os.
• software design: Software design basics, algorithm and code design, programming tools, and software engineering principles.
• prototyping and evaluation: develop skills in selecting methods for prototyping using appropriate tools and means, including rapid prototyping and computer modelling.