Product Design and Manufacture including an Industrial Year - U7UPDMANY

This module provides a comprehensive introduction to engineering design and project delivery through both theoretical understanding and practical application. You will learn fundamental design principles, machine elements selection and basic manufacturing skills. You will also learn methods to develop and communicate designs through CAE to a wide range of audiences.  Through group and individual practical project work, you will be introduced to project planning techniques including scheduling, risk assessment, resource allocation and engineering documentation.

Practising Product Designers are often referred to as a jack of all trades and a master of none; This module begins a series of modules which focus on the broader discipline of Industrial Design and many topics which influence the practice that Designers need to be well versed in to create appropriate solutions to problems! To support the learning of these topics, and to begin understanding the process of design in a little more depth, students who participate in this module will undertake a short design project.

Other topics covered include:

• History of Design.
• Impact on Popular Culture.
• Role of the Designer.
• Design Methodology.
• Ethical Responsibility.
• Graphical Skills.
• Photography.
• Portfolio Skills.
• Sustainability and Ecology.

This module introduces you to the properties of materials, selected failure mechanisms and core manufacturing methods used in engineering applications. This understanding of both materials and the manufacturing techniques used to process these materials is essential to produce effective and commercially viable products and to enable engineering components to operate as required.

This module delivers mathematics teaching alongside core programming principles. You will develop a strong understanding of mathematics required for a range of engineering problems, including solving first- and second-order differential equations, the algebra of complex numbers, and solving systems of equations with matrix techniques and vectors. You will also be introduced to writing and understanding computer programs, including the use of variables and data types, loops, functions and arrays, and data plotting and simple computer graphics.

This module introduces you to the analysis of mechanical systems in statics and dynamics contexts. Through a structured approach, you will develop core analytical skills by exploring topics including force equilibrium, stress and strain analysis, kinematics, conservation laws and mechanical drive systems. The emphasis is placed on developing skills to apply these concepts to simplified engineering scenarios, providing a solid foundation for further study.

Designers need to be able to communicate their thoughts and design work to a broad range of individuals, not limited to, Clients, Customers, Specialist Engineers, Advertising specialists, other designers etc. To achieve effective communication a broad range of skill sets, and techniques need to be understood and employed. The module will develop CAD skills and include content on surface modelling so that students are able to model almost any object with the appropriate level of detailing. Following on from this the module will introduce Keyshot, a software that allows the production of high-end realistic computer-generated images and animations to communicate designs.

• Solidworks Parametric Modelling
• Solidworks Surface Modelling
• Digital Sketching & Rendering
• Keyshot Photo realistic Rendering

The aim of this module is to develop knowledge, understanding and practical skills in design for manufacturing and manufacturing and product development. It covers design for manufacturability, design for assembly, rapid prototyping and manufacturing, jigs and fixtures, process planning and group technology and design for cost. You’ll spend two hours in lectures and three hours in practicals each week when studying this module.

Building on Industrial Design and Professional practice from the 1st year of the programme, the second module continues to explore the field of Industrial design in more depth. The first half of the module focuses on topics such as branding and marketing; an understanding of these practises can impact how/what we design into products. We then build on the knowledge of ecology and sustainability established in the first module, to understand the impact that our designs have, and how we can minimise our environmental impact. The module also takes a more advanced look into Engineering Drawings and teaches students how to review drawings and make necessary alterations based on feedback.  

• Branding and Marketing
• Company Structures
• Product Design Industry
• Supply Chains
• Sustainability: the facts
• Sustainability Design Tools
• Engineering Drawings 

This module introduces you to design projects, challenging you with complex problems and guiding you through the application of a structured design process to develop solutions. You’ll address a wide range of requirements, including user and commercial needs, while considering manufacturing processes to create viable products. You’ll build an awareness of core design skills and your practical application in solving real-world design challenges, with a focus on material selection and manufacturing techniques.

This module addresses engineering materials and their application in sustainable design practice. You will develop an integrated understanding of material properties, processing and through-life considerations. The content covers areas including design requirements and constraints, material performance evaluation, sustainable manufacturing considerations and selection methods for sustainable design. 

This module will introduce ergonomics (human factors) encompassing different aspects of product design and other applications. The module will demonstrate why ergonomics input to design is important and will teach the practical application of user centred research methods, also covering research ethics and statistical methods to analyse results. Content covered includes:

• Task Analysis
• Anthropometric data and Understanding Humans
• Human Factors in Design
• Designing for Users
• User Based research methods
• Evaluation Methods
• Ethics in Design
• Emotional Design

This module considers: 

• Case studies on Cognitive Ergonomics in Design. 
• Human Information Processing Models applied to Product Design. 
• Mental Models. 
  
• Artificial Intelligence. 
• Virtual Reality tools for Design.  

In this advanced module, you will build on your experience of computer-aided design (CAD) modelling and analysis techniques. 

You will complete weekly exercises while under the support of an experienced team of computer-aided engineering (CAE) users. This approach will allow you to work at your own pace and receive targeted individual support. You will cover solid and surface modelling, rendering, finite element analysis, design studies and optimisation.

This module will provide you with some advanced practical CAE skills, particularly for use in project work and industry. 

This module builds on materials and manufacturing knowledge gained in the first two years, focusing on the injection moulding process alongside other high-volume plastic manufacturing techniques. You’ll learn to design components suitable for these methods and the associated tooling, using computational tools like mould flow analysis to optimise your designs. Through a design project, you will apply your learning in creating polymer injection-moulded components. Those who do not pass the module will be required to complete a re-assessment exam, with the exam mark determining progression.

You will plan and conduct a user-based study, using the findings to inform the design of a product for a diverse user group. Through a Major Project, you will demonstrate professional responsibility, working in teams and leading specific tasks. The module covers cognitive and physical ergonomics, statistical analysis, and User Experience (UX), with you applying these principles in the development of product solutions.

Logistics and supply chain management (LSCM) principles lie at the heart of modern-day business operations. In this module, you will be introduced to the fundamentals of LSCM.

You’ll gain knowledge and understanding of: 

• the dynamic and changing nature of business and the consideration of the future of organisations within the global business environment

• the development, access and operation of markets for resources, goods and services 

• the role of LSCM strategies in enhancing a business' competitive advantage

• the dynamics of relationships among business partners in delivering exceptional customer satisfaction 

• the management of customer expectations and relationships

• the management of outsourcing 

• the management of digital technologies and their impact upon organisations

• the intricacies of international supply chain networks and transportation 

• the application of lean and digital supply chain in the VUCA environment (volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity)

• the need for individuals and organisations to manage responsibly and sustainably, in relation to social, cultural, economic and environmental issues 

You will develop your commercial acumen, critical thinking and ability to analyse facts and circumstances, determine the cause of a problem and select appropriate solutions. You’ll also improve your ability to analyse and evaluate a range of business data, sources of information and appropriate methodologies. 

In this module, you will build on the materials and manufacturing knowledge you’ve developed within the first two years of the programme, with a particular focus on the sheet metal and fabrication processes, although other high-volume metal processes are also discussed. 

You will learn to design components that are appropriate for these manufacturing techniques and will explore topics such as additive manufacturing and rapid tooling technologies. 

You will also conduct a design project, where you will apply your knowledge of the design of sheet metal components and produce engineering drawings of these components.

This module focuses on sustainability in engineering, with an emphasis on industrial design. You’ll explore a wide range of topics that influence sustainability, alongside methodologies for promoting sustainability within the design process. Through analytical analysis of data, you will assess the impact of your design decisions. A key component of the module is a design project, where you’ll apply your knowledge to create sustainable product solutions.

Subject to you meeting the relevant requirements, this year will be spent in industry.

The placement year opportunity enables you to take what you've learned and apply it to real projects in a professional working environment. You will be supported by a placement tutor in securing a position and they will keep in touch during the year to see how you are getting on. The placement year can provide you with a source of income and can even lead to a job offer before you've graduated.

Important information

Please be aware that study abroad, compulsory year abroad, optional placements/internships and integrated year in industry opportunities may change at any time for a number of reasons, including curriculum developments, changes to arrangements with partner universities or placement/industry hosts, travel restrictions or other circumstances outside of the university’s control. Every effort will be made to update this information as quickly as possible should a change occur.

You will undertake an engineering design project, applying engineering mathematics and sciences to develop solutions for industrial design problems, while also addressing manufacturing details. The module challenges you to create innovative product design solutions aimed at tackling significant societal or cultural challenges. You will balance a range of conflicting factors to produce professional, impactful designs, working with technical and analytical data to develop solutions.

The module will introduce the relevant background and fundamental concepts regarding the integration of different Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in modern manufacturing systems. Focus will be placed on understanding topics such as cyber-physical systems, adaptive and autonomous manufacturing, digitalisation, data analytics and emerging business models through a series of relevant case studies.

This module introduces electromechanical systems, combining theoretical understanding with practical application. You will develop both analytical and implementation skills through hands-on projects. The content covers areas including fundamentals of electric motors and actuators, power electronics principles, system stability and performance, practical electromechanical integration and control system fundamentals. 

The Major Project is the final and largest piece of work which students undertake during the final 16 weeks of their study. In this module a problem area/project title is selected, and students undertake a substantive body of research and investigation to understand the background and relevant requirements prior to entering the design phase of the project. A broad range of investigatory methods will be utilised in order to identify a profile of user requirements and desires for the product which will be designed. 

• User based Research
• Questionnaires
• Empathy Studies
• Identify Project opportunities
• Develop requirements for the Product
• Production of Brief

The Major Project is the final and largest piece of work which students undertake during their studies on our programme.

Students conduct the design and engineering phase of the project over 16 weeks. The project requires students to utilise and demonstrate a variety of skills which have been learnt throughout the duration of their course and apply them to develop a fully detailed and complete design. At the end of the module students will present their final design, alongside documents such as engineering drawings which communicate all the required manufacturing detail to produce the product. These are as follows:

• Ideation phase
• Production of high-quality concepts
• Development Design Detailing
• Engineering detail
• Engineering Drawings
• High quality Renders
• Design Presentation Boards

This module equips you with the skills and experience necessary for your future careers in design and engineering. You will prepare materials showcasing your product design knowledge and practice professional communication within the context of a design-based job interview. You will also develop your Level 4 personal portfolio and materials for your end-of-degree show. The module focuses on enhancing problem-solving abilities specific to industrial design while helping you refine your professional communication skills, preparing you for success in the design and engineering industries.