This year features a major individual project in manufacturing engineering over the full year, making up a third of your studies. In addition to compulsory manufacturing modules, you will study a range of optional modules in manufacturing, operations management and human factors. This provides you with the flexibility to tailor the course to your interests.
Manufacturing Automation
The aim of the module is to introduce students to the fundamental concepts of manufacturing automation, present key automation technologies in manufacturing and their advantages and limitations.
The module will introduce the relevant theoretical background and fundamental concepts of different automation approaches and technologies. The focus will be placed on the role of sensors, CNC machine tools, industrial robotics and programmable logic controllers within different manufacturing contexts. Methods and indicators for quantitative production performance and cost analysis will be covered as well.
Engineering Sustainability
BEng Individual Project
The project aims to give you experience in the practice of manufacturing engineering at a professional level. It involves the planning, execution and reporting of a programme of work which will normally involve a mixture of experimental, theoretical and computational work together with a review of relevant previous work in the field. The detailed content is a matter for discussion between the student and their supervisor.
Engineering Management 2
Flexible Automated Manufacture
This module introduces the important aspects of advanced automated manufacturing principles. It aims to help you develop a sound understanding of flexible automated manufacturing solutions. Through case studies, you’ll study their role in the context of current and future manufacturing challenges, as well as their advantages and limitations. Topics include:
- computer integrated manufacturing
- implications of mass customisation on automated manufacturing systems
- the impact of enterprise agility on their manufacturing facilities
Food Factory Designs and Operations
This module is to provide a level of understanding about the operations of a food factory commensurate with that expected by a manager to include: information on the units operations, appropriate legislative issues, control of goods in and out of the establishment, appropriate hygienic regimes and controlled flows.
Managing Business Operations
This module explores the strategic importance of operations in business management, within and across organisations, and in addressing environmental and societal challenges. Organisations in this module refer to organisations from the public, private and third sectors; service and manufacturing.
Examples of topics include:
- value and performance
- the links with other business functions
- sustainability
- product and service innovation
- managing the supply chain and network
- resource management
- excellence through improvement and quality
Management of Quality
This module aims to develop your understanding of quality management. It begins by introducing you to the ways in which thinking about quality has developed historically. You’ll discuss different definitions and concepts of quality and the specific quality management needs in the manufacturing and service sectors.
Manufacturing Process Capability
The module will give students in-depth understanding of technical capability of modern manufacturing processes in relation to product design. The aim of the module is to develop students’ abilities to understand and assess the capability of single and combined manufacturing processes. You’ll spend two hours in lectures and two hours in seminars each week when studying this module.
Computer Aided Engineering
In this module you will start to develop one of the key skills for an engineer – that of being able to program. You will gain the skills required to analyse, design and implement solutions to practical engineering problems through the use of computer aided design tools and the development of software based solutions.
Computer Engineering and Mechatronics
Supply Chain and Operations Planning
This module will introduce you to:
- supply chain fundamentals, including: the supply chain planning processes and the need for them
- planning processes and methods, including: forecasting; aggregate planning; MRP; capacity management; theory of constraints (TOC); JIT (kanban); inventory management
- IS/IT support for planning including ERP systems
- planning through the supply chain, examining the challenges in different contexts through case studies
Plant Location and Design
This module provides an understanding of the factors which influence a company's choice of location, and of how to approach the design of layouts to support a company's strategic objectives and maximise the efficiency of its operations.
Fibre Reinforced Composites Engineering (spring)
An introductory module on the design, manufacture and performance of fibre-reinforced composite materials.
Constituent materials including fibres, resins and additives are described. Processing techniques and the relationships between process and design are highlighted. Design methodologies and computer-aided engineering techniques are demonstrated for component design. Case studies from a variety of industries including automotive and aerospace are presented.
Method and Frequency of Class:
Activity |
Number of Weeks |
Number of sessions |
Duration of a session |
Lecture |
12 weeks |
1 week |
2 hours |
Method of Assessment:
Assessment Type |
Weight |
Requirements |
Exam 1 |
100.00 |
2 hour exam |
Aerospace Manufacturing Technology (spring)
This module covers a range of topics relating to basic airframe structure. Airframe component manufacturing techniques, automated manufacture, geometry and material constraints will be covered.
This module covers:
- Basic airframe structure
- Airframe component manufacturing techniques
- Joining techniques
- Assembly technology
- Composite structures
- Jigless assembly and automated manufacture
- Basic aero-engine structure
- Geometry and material constraints
- Manufacturing processes: forging, casting, welding and joining techniques, special processes, small and non round hole manufacture
- Certification, verification inspection and quality control
Method and Frequency of Class:
Activity |
Number of Weeks |
Number of sessions |
Duration of a session |
Lecture |
12 weeks |
1 week |
2 hours |
Method of Assessment:
Assessment Type |
Weight |
Requirements |
Exam 1 |
100.00 |
Unseen 2 hours |
Introduction to Transport Materials
The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. Modules (including methods of assessment) may change or be updated, or modules may be cancelled, over the duration of the course due to a number of reasons such as curriculum developments or staffing changes. Please refer to the
module catalogue for information on available modules. This content was last updated on