Detailed study of a range of philosophies/methodologies for modern manufacturing.
Basic planning and control methodologies and tools applicable to manufacturing organisations including, demand management, master production, scheduling, capacity planning, manufacturing resource planning, enterprise resource planning, shop floor control and inventory management.

The new quality dynamic, Economics of quality, Different quality philosophies, Planning and organising quality, Continuous improvement and problem solving, Human resources, Reliability and its analysis.

Quality conformance, Role of maintenance, Principles of total quality management, quality strategy, management of change customer and supplier focus, organisational structure, vendor rating.

Quality assurance systems: quality manuals, standards, legislation, audits, costing.

Quality control techniques: Statistical methods in quality assurance (e.g. SPC and six sigma), measurement systems, frequency distribution, control charts, process capability, repeatability and standardisation, relative precision index, software packages, cause and effect analysis, Pareto analysis, failure mode and effect analysis.

A reflective executive report of approximately 2,500 words and a presentation of 15 minutes including questions and answers assessing all learning outcomes.

The module will run over 12 weeks in Semester 3.

Summative Assessment:
This will normally include 4 weeks for you to complete the assessments to be marked.

Formative Assessment:
Over this period, you will work through weekly self-instructional material (a mixture of text and video based materials and web resources) provided via the Blackboard VLE platform. These materials will provide a structured programme of specific activities and tasks which you will be asked to complete. This will involve reading and critically engaging with key texts, papers and other information sources. This work will mainly be undertaken on an individual basis, but at regular points throughout the module you will be expected to interact and share material, ideas and thoughts with the Module Tutors and other students studying this module.

Online Learning Activities will include a combination of the following:
Lectures/Tutorials
Group tutorials (Feedback)

Independent Learning Activities will include the following:
Independent Study
Reading and research

It is expected that you allocate a minimum of 15 hours to engage and interact with your Module Tutors and peers on the module and 135 hours on independent learning activities.

Muhlemann, A. et al. (2007) Production and Operations Management, 6th Edn., Pearson Education Ltd
Evans, J.R. & Lindsay, W.M. (2010) Management and Control of Quality, 8th Edn., South Western Cengage Learning
Anthony, J. & Preece, D. (2001) Understanding, Managing, and Implementing Quality: Frameworks, Techniques and Cases, Routledge

Access to the Blackboard VLE platform used for delivering the module,
Access to e-library resources provided by the University.

Module can only be studied as part of the MSc Engineering conversion course.

1. Apply the specific philosophies and tools of production management.
(APPLICATION)

2. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of a systems approach to manufacturing analysis and the integration of techniques that enable systems to be optimised.
(KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING)

3. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding and critical evaluation of techniques of quality management and associated philosophies in manufacturing environments.
(ENQUIRY)

4. Demonstrate an independent learning ability to critically evaluate the competitive advantage of optimised manufacturing systems.
(LEARNING, ANALYSIS)