Contact time includes a 2 hour lecture/practical each week to cover the following:
1. Part A of the module
2. Guidance relating to Part B of the module.

Independent study relates to:
1. interviews at work
2. efficient collection information for Part B of the module
3. completion of laboratory reports
4. preparation of folder information
5. preparation and rehearsal of presentation.

This section of the module introduces students to the fundamentals of electronic circuits and systems. The treatment concentrates on basic understanding coupled with the minimum necessary quantitative analysis. PC-based circuit simulation software is introduced but the emphasis is on practical hands-on experience with real circuits:
The electric circuit. Voltage, current and resistance. Ohm's law.
Measurements with multimeter. SI units. Circuit diagrams and component specification and symbols.
Simple dc circuits with series- and parallel-connected resistors. Equivalent resistance.
Alternating current and voltage. Frequency. Peak and rms values.
Use of signal generator and oscilloscope. Simple ac resistive circuits.
Capacitors. Qualitative response of RC circuits to sinusoidal sources. Observation of phase shift.
Electromagnetism and electromagnetic induction. Qualitative behaviour of inductors and transformers.
Semiconductor devices. Diodes, LEDs , transistors and op-amps. Qualitative principles of operation.
Measurements and observations of semiconductor-device behaviour in simple electronic circuits.

Part B
This part of the module requires the student to undertake a structured analysis of tasks set in industry relating to Production Planning & Scheduling Technology and to target specific areas for self development and learning. The tasks analysed will be tailored to match the background of the student and negotiated between the module tutor and the student. The targeted areas will be agreed through negotiation with the company. The areas will be Level 1 in nature and three areas from the following must be chosen: Production Methods/ organisation of manufacturing operations, facility layout ? group technology, capacity management and operations scheduling, manufacturing planning, for stock and to order, introduction to inventory management and MRPI And II, introduction to manufacturing planning and control systems JIT, OPT, CIM.

Additionally use of powerpoint and development of presentation skills supports Part B.

Part A:
A folder of work covering laboratory work and tutorial examples (25%), learning outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4.
10 minute presentation by the student to module tutor(s) outlining the work in the folder followed by an interview of 20 minutes (max) on the folder contents. (25%), learning outcomes 3, 4, 7 and 8.

Part B:
2000 word technical essay (50%), learning outcomes 5, 6 and 7.

Industry with accessible electronic systems (e.g. infrastructure or under manufacture) and test equipment.
PC-based simulation software such as Electronics Workbench and/or PSpice

Electronics Fundamentals, T Floyd, 2000. Merrill. ISBN 0-675-21310-X
Electrical and Electronic Technology, Edward Hughes, October 2002, Prentice Hall, ISBN 0-58240519X

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