Introductory description

In today’s evolving engineering landscape, the close integration of effective design and efficient manufacturing is essential to producing innovative, sustainable and commercially viable products. This module explores how these interconnected disciplines drive state-of-the-art engineering practice and examines the digital and AI driven tools that are transforming how products are conceived, developed and brought to market.
This module explores the principles and practices that underpin advanced engineering design and manufacturing. Design is a structured and systematic process that enables engineers to develop effective and commercially viable products. Manufacturing complements this by transforming materials into functional components through planned processes and operations. As these areas are closely interconnected, engineers must design products that not only meet technical requirements but can also be produced efficiently and economically.
Students will develop an understanding of materials, manufacturing processes and the wider implications of design decisions, including process selection, assembly, automation, tooling, cost, quality and sustainability. The module also examines key digital tools (for example: CAD, CAM, CAPP, CAE, CIM and PDM) which are now essential for managing and optimising design and manufacturing activities.
Emerging AI technologies are increasingly influencing both fields. The module further considers how AI enhances idea generation, visualisation, early design analysis and improves manufacturing through optimisation, prediction and advanced quality control.
When delivered on Degree Overseas Programmes, this module is taught in an intensive one week format.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Design process frameworks and management tools
Use of computers and technology to aid design and manufacture
Manufacturing technologies, processes & materials
Designing for a circular economy and lifecycle analysis

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• 1. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the fundamentals of product design and development processes, including: methods; technologies; latest trends; tools and techniques; outcome and functional/resource interdependence, interpreting their relationships from concept to customer.
• 2. Critically evaluate and make recommendations on approaches to the management of product design and development processes.
• 3. Critically evaluate and contrast: materials; manufacturing processes; manufacturing tools and technologies that are most used in the manufacturing industry.
• 4. Critically evaluate manufacture-design, demonstrating detailed knowledge of fundamental aspects of manufacturing and materials processes and technologies in the context of a circular /sustainable economy.

Indicative reading list

Specific reading list for the module

Subject specific skills

The course is centred around developing a broad range of knowledge and skills in design and manufacturing. The course focusses on two major disciplines, design and manufacturing, and will develop knowledge, skills and core competencies in:

1. Fundamentals of the design process and a framework approach, independent of technology, to manage the design process.
2. Fundamentals of materials and process technology together with utilisation of appropriate selection tools to enable a more scientific approach to material and process selection decisions.
3. Recognise the scope and with utilisation of appropriate tools and techniques, critically evaluate and interpret the impact of automation and computing in design and manufacturing.

Transferable skills

1. Apply complex scientific selection processes to arrive at solutions.
2. Logically argue with rigour and reasoning to arrive at a given solution.
3. Problem solving.
4. Team-working.
5. Presentation skills.