Mechanical Engineering BEng (Hons)

Module EN0576 - Engineering Economics and Professional Skills

(20.00 Credits)

SYNOPSIS OF MODULE
The aim of this module is to enable students to develop the necessary professional skill sets for the advancement of the engineering professional. This will include engineering economics, critical thinking and communication skills.
Module content will include an introduction to the financial decision making methods used to evaluate manufacturing options from an economic viewpoint, and the techniques used to evaluate and improve personal, team and organisational efficiency levels. This will be further enhanced with content on how such factors may be influenced by quality control aspects, together with their importance and links in terms of engineering project management.
Opportunities are provided for students to develop, and reflect on the role of, effective interpersonal communication and professional development skills within a professional context. Students are expected to become aware of the professions skills required by their profession including: personal development planning, knowledge of relevant legislation and codes of conduct and the need to communicate balanced arguments relating to professional and ethical issues.
Lectures will be used to introduce theory and key concepts. Seminar tasks and online support will be used to provide focused skill-development tasks related to the learning outcomes. Tasks are provided in a context which allow for opportunities to explore some of the ethical and interpersonal issues likely to be encountered by engineering professionals. Lecture and seminar support for student tasks will be supplemented by resources on the eLP. Directed learning tasks will be used to encourage students to engage with relevant literature and professional codes.
Assessment is split between a final year exam and a portfolio of evidence:
The exam will assess the majority of the module content including financial decision systems and how operator/machine and organisational performances are controlled and measured, manufacturing quality and project management aspects.
The assignment will require the students to produce a portfolio of evidence showing a selection of skills such as researching, personal development planning and report-writing.



INDICATIVE READING LIST OR OTHER LEARNING RESOURCES
1. Recommendations for purchase by students
N/A
2. Books
Ashby, M. (2005) How to Write a Paper. 6rd Edn. University of Cambridge.

Collis, J. and Hussey, R. (2006), Business Accounting: an introduction to financial and management accounting, 2nd Edn., Palgrave Macmillan.

Lock, D. (2000), Project Management, 7th edn. Glover.
Samuel Mantel et al., (2011,) Project management in practice, 4th edn, Wiley.
3. Journal Articles

N/A
4. Journals and Newspaper Titles
N/A
5. Databases and Websites
UK standard for professional Engineering Competence (Engineering Technician, Incorporated Engineer and Chartered Engineer Standard) www.engc.org.uk
Royal Academy of Engineering “Statement of Ethical Principles”
http://www.raeng.org.uk/societygov/engineeringethics/principles.htm
6. Any Other Resources
N/A



OUTLINE SYLLABUS
Business Costing / Finance
The financial decision making tools that enable manufacturing organisations to evaluate potential impact and returns on various courses of action and projects, financial costing systems and budgetary control.

Industrial engineering
The techniques used to evaluate and improve efficiency in terms of operators, machines, systems and the organisation as a whole.

Professional Skills
Social, ethical, communication and personal development

Quality Assurance Techniques
The concepts of total quality and the control systems used to measure and evaluate quality, together with established methodologies such as six-sigma and standards such as ISO9000.

Project Management
The techniques used to manage and control engineering projects, the roles, knowledge and characteristics required to manage such projects, associated risks and project appraisal.



AIMS OF MODULE
The aim of this module is to enable students to develop the necessary professional skill sets for the advancement of the engineering professional. This will include engineering economics, critical thinking and communication skills. Such skills are relevant to students’ future careers and their other modules of study, especially their project module at Level 6.


LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of this module the student will be able to:
1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of commercial and economic context of engineering processes (S1)
2. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of management techniques to achieve engineering objectives (S2)
3. Demonstrate awareness of quality control and related issues (P7)
4. Demonstrate awareness of the framework of relevant legal requirements governing engineering activities and understanding of the need for a high level of professional and ethical conduct in engineering (S4) (S5)
5. Demonstrate knowledge of career development opportunities and consideration of individual action to develop own career.

(Sx etc denotes specific learning outcomes stated in IMechE Education Base and Criteria for Degree Accreditation)



PRE-REQUISITES
None


CO-REQUISITES
None


DISTANCE LEARNING DELIVERY
N/A


LEARNING AND TEACHING STRATEGY
This module will be delivered through lectures with seminar support to enable students to apply the learning from lectures. Lectures will make use of active-learning techniques to engage students with the lecture material. Further support will be available on the eLP, e.g. via discussion groups.

Electronic feedback will be given on the portfolio submission.



ASSESSMENT AND FEEDBACK STRATEGY
a Summative assessment and rationale for tasks

This will consist of
• an exam (70%) covering the business, industrial engineering, quality and project management aspects of the module
• a portfolio (30%) consisting of written work related to professional skills, including evidence of research, PDP and report writing in the context of the professional engineering management.

b. Additional formative assessment – detail of process and rationale

Formative assessment will be done through in-class tasks where students will work individually and with peers on activities related to the lecture contents. Formative feedback can also be given electronically through the eLP where appropriate.

c. Indication of how students will get feedback and how this will support their learning

Students will be able to submit the summatively assessed portfolio tasks at intervals rather than at the end of the course which will allow for formative feedback to be given during the course. This formative feedback will support students in their completion of the following portfolio tasks.

Examination feedback will be provided following the normal processes to show generically where the cohort has a strong or weaker answer to the examination, together with written feedback on individual exam papers.



IMPLICATIONS FOR CHOICE
None

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