- Student Records
Programme & Unit Catalogues


ME30294: Product design and development

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2013/4
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Mechanical Engineering
Further information on credits Credits: 6
Further information on unit levels Level: Honours (FHEQ level 6)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Semester 1
Further information on unit assessment Assessment: CW 50%, EX 50%
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: ME30294 Re-Assessment Examination (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites:
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
To illustrate the stages of product design processes, methods for creativity and styling, awareness of human factors and ergonomics.
To provide awareness of the product design discipline and typical activities undertaken.
To introduce strategic, cultural, organisational and technological aspects of product development in a global context, including consideration of knowledge management issues, models of the new product introduction (NPI) process, management of the NPI process, product development strategies, sustainable development issues.

Learning Outcomes:
After taking this unit the student should be able to:
* Describe typical product design processes; appreciate user requirements such as style, form and interaction.
* Identify the key elements of successful products.
* Describe the historic context of global product development.
* Outline strategic, organisational, human and cultural factors that should be taken into account when developing products for a global market.
* Describe approaches to sustainable design.

Skills:
Problem solving; numeracy; working independently; written communication.

Content:
Product design: user requirements, form, styling, functionality. Creativity, concept generation, concept evaluation. Human factors, ergonomics. Examples of successful products and best practice. Product development: historical and cultural context. Human aspects: communities of practice; critical situations; methods for knowledge sharing, cultural issues. Strategic aspects: managing the design process; product platform and strategy; mass customisation; late and local configuration, issues of and approaches to sustainable development. Topics for self study that could be examined.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

ME30294 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • UEME-AFB41 : BEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with Advanced Design and Innovation (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UEME-AKB41 : BEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with Advanced Design and Innovation (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • UEME-AFB38 : BEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with Manufacturing and Management (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UEME-AKB38 : BEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with Manufacturing and Management (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • UEME-AFM41 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with Advanced Design and Innovation (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UEME-AKM41 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with Advanced Design and Innovation (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • UEME-AKM42 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with Advanced Design, Innovation and French (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • UEME-AKM43 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with Advanced Design, Innovation and German (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • UEME-AFM38 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with Manufacturing and Management (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UEME-AKM38 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with Manufacturing and Management (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4

ME30294 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • UEME-AFM04 : MEng (hons) Aerospace Engineering (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEME-AKM04 : MEng (hons) Aerospace Engineering (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5
  • UEME-AFM05 : MEng (hons) Aerospace Engineering with French (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEME-AKM05 : MEng (hons) Aerospace Engineering with French (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5
  • UEME-AFM06 : MEng (hons) Aerospace Engineering with German (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEME-AKM06 : MEng (hons) Aerospace Engineering with German (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5
  • UEME-AFM01 : MEng (hons) Automotive Engineering (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEME-AKM01 : MEng (hons) Automotive Engineering (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5
  • UEME-AFM02 : MEng (hons) Automotive Engineering with French (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEME-AKM02 : MEng (hons) Automotive Engineering with French (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5
  • UEME-AFM03 : MEng (hons) Automotive Engineering with German (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEME-AKM03 : MEng (hons) Automotive Engineering with German (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5
  • UEME-AFM16 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEME-AKM16 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5
  • UEME-AFM17 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with French (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEME-AKM17 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with French (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5
  • UEME-AFM18 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with German (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEME-AKM18 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with German (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5
  • UEME-AFM39 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with Manufacturing, Management and French (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEME-AKM39 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with Manufacturing, Management and French (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5
  • UEME-AFM40 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with Manufacturing, Management and German (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEME-AKM40 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with Manufacturing, Management and German (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5

Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2013/4 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2014/15 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2013/14.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.