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Study information

Management of Product Development - 2023 entry

MODULE TITLEManagement of Product Development CREDIT VALUE15
MODULE CODEECM3153 MODULE CONVENERDr Mahdieh Dibaj (Coordinator)
DURATION: TERM 1 2 3
DURATION: WEEKS 11 weeks 0 0
Number of Students Taking Module (anticipated) 82
DESCRIPTION - summary of the module content

When it comes to inventing and making a product, a fantastic engineering idea is not enough. The World War 2 Spitfire was an ingenious aircraft to take into battle but its manufacture was very costly, and took three times as long as the enemy's equivalent. An essential aim for engineers today is to design a good product that is also easy to manufacture, and completing this vision demands effective management tools.
 

This module introduces you to management concepts and techniques and takes you through the whole engineering procedure from marketing your product idea; exploring fundamentals like patents and intellectual property, to ensuring that your design fulfils customer requirements; and use techniques like QFD or House of Quality in which market needs and major product aspects are analysed to guide your design.


Studying design for manufacture is a key element of this module and this covers different techniques that attempt to ensure your designs are suitable to be made. The main aim is to teach you not just about the value of a strong engineering idea but about the practicalities of how you bring it to market and how these two factors must work together.


By the end of the module you will understand the design and development process and how it is controlled; in particular how you will monitor this efficiently at various stages to produce a product that meets the specification you wrote and the original customers' requirements. With a strong grasp of designing for manufacture in mind, you will also have become more competent to work in the design process of real companies and have an excellent knowledge of how to manage this.
 

AIMS - intentions of the module

The module aims to introduce you to the process of generating ideas for new product development. It also aims to develop your awareness of how the basic concepts and tools for managing new product development are applied in practice. Finally, it highlights the integration of product development process and the delivery system reliability and maintenance.

 

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs) (see assessment section below for how ILOs will be assessed)

This is a constituent module of one or more degree programmes (i.e., Bachelors/MEng) which are accredited by a professional engineering institution under licence from the Engineering Council. The learning outcomes for this module have been mapped to the output standards required for an accredited programme, as listed in the current version of the Engineering Council’s ‘Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes’ document (AHEP-V3).

 

This module contributes to learning outcomes: SM1p-SM3p, SM1m-SM3m, SM6m, SM1fl, SM3fl, D1p-D6p, D1m-D8m, D1fl-D3fl, ET1p, ET1m, ET1fl, ET2p, ET2m, ET2fl, ET5p, ET5m, ET5fl, ET7m, EP2p, EP2m, EP1fl, EP9p, EP9m, EP2fl, EP9p, EP11m, EP4fl, G1p, G1m, G1fl, G4p, G4m, G4fl

 

A full list of the referenced outcomes is provided online: http://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/emps/subjects/engineering/accreditation/

 

The AHEP document can be viewed in full on the Engineering Council’s website, at http://www.engc.org.uk/.

 

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

 

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge: SM1p-SM3p, SM1m-SM3m, SM6m, SM1fl, SM3fl, D1p-D6p, D1m-D8m, D1fl-D3fl, EP2p, EP2m, EP1fl, EP9m, EP2fl, EP9p, EP11m, EP4fl

1. Understand the issues that arise when developing products, services and processes and awareness for sources of generating new ideas.
2. Comprehend the fundamental nature of product/service development and its relationship with the delivery system.
3. Participate effectively in the process of new product development.
4. Demonstrate familiarity with a range of concepts and tools for effective management of new product development.

 

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge: ET1p, ET12m, ET1fl, ET2p, ET2m, ET2fl, ET5p, ET5m, ET5fl, ET7m

5. Appreciate the strategic nature and importance of new product development to the corporate success.

 

Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and Knowledge: EP9p, EP11m, EP4fl, G1p, G1m, G2fl, G4p, G4m, G4fl

6. Work in teams to analyse problems and present analysis to larger groups.
7. Illustrate critical analysis skills through analysis of case studies.
8, Enhance communication, report writing, and organisational skills.

SYLLABUS PLAN - summary of the structure and academic content of the module

- introduction to new product development;

- the essential differences between product and service;

- the role of markets and marketing function;

- product/service designs - issues and considerations;

- product reliability;

- process reliability - making a system fail-safe;

- process reliability - checking for failure;

- maintenance - concepts and tasks;

- maintenance - types;

- life cycle design and costing;

- design knowledge management;

- management of innovation;

- design re-use.

LEARNING AND TEACHING
LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities 22 Guided Independent Study 128 Placement / Study Abroad 0
DETAILS OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS
Category Hours of study time Description
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 22 Lectures and seminars
Guided independent study 128 Private study
     

 

ASSESSMENT
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT - for feedback and development purposes; does not count towards module grade
Form of Assessment Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Not applicable      
       

 

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (% of credit)
Coursework 40 Written Exams 60 Practical Exams
DETAILS OF SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Form of Assessment % of Credit Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Written exam – closed book 60 2 hours - January Exam 1, 2, 4, 5 On request

Generation of a Marketing Plan: Group Case Study

10 32 hours 3, 6, 7, 8 Written comments on work and mark sheet

Development of Marketing plan to budgeted Level 1 Schedule: Individual Mini Project

30 96 hours 1, 2, 4, 7, 8 Written comments on work and mark sheet
         
         

 

DETAILS OF RE-ASSESSMENT (where required by referral or deferral)
Original Form of Assessment Form of Re-assessment ILOs Re-assessed Time Scale for Re-reassessment
All above Written exam (100% - 2 hours) All August Ref/Def period
       

 

RE-ASSESSMENT NOTES

Reassessment will be by a single written exam only worth 100% of the module. For deferred candidates, the mark will be uncapped. For referred candidates, the mark will be capped at 40%.

RESOURCES
INDICATIVE LEARNING RESOURCES - The following list is offered as an indication of the type & level of
information that you are expected to consult. Further guidance will be provided by the Module Convener

ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk


 

Reading list for this module:

Type Author Title Edition Publisher Year ISBN
Set Stevens, R, Brook, P, et al Systems Engineering: coping with complexity Prentice Hall 1998 978-0130950858
Extended Lysons, K, Farrington, B Purchasing and Supply Chain Management 7th Prentice Hall 2006 978-0273694380
CREDIT VALUE 15 ECTS VALUE 7.5
PRE-REQUISITE MODULES None
CO-REQUISITE MODULES None
NQF LEVEL (FHEQ) 3 (NQF level 6) AVAILABLE AS DISTANCE LEARNING No
ORIGIN DATE Tuesday 10th July 2018 LAST REVISION DATE Wednesday 8th February 2023
KEY WORDS SEARCH Design process; customer; requirements, reliability; management; product development.

Please note that all modules are subject to change, please get in touch if you have any questions about this module.