Appraise the significance of current Manufacturing Technology in the context of Engineering Business Management

Student ID or IDs for group work

e.g. 1234567

Submission date (excluding extensions)

Submission guidance

Tabula

Late submission policy

If work is submitted late, penalties will be applied at the rate of 5 marks per University working day after the due date, up to a maximum of 10 working days late. After this period the mark for the work will be reduced to 0 (which is the maximum penalty). “Late” means after the submission deadline time as well as the date – work submitted after the given time even on the same day is counted as 1 day late.

For Postgraduate students only, who started their current course before 1 August 2019, the daily penalty is 3 marks rather than 5.

Resubmission policy

If you fail this assignment or module, please be aware that the University allows students to remedy such failure (within certain limits). Decisions to authorise such resubmissions are made by Exam Boards. Normally these will be issued at specific times of the year, depending on your programme of study. More information can be found from your programme office if you are concerned.

Module title & code

Manufacturing Technology ES9J1-10

Module owner

Module tutor

See above

Module marker

See above

Assessment type

Essay (post-module assignment)

Weighting of mark

100%

Assessment brief

Answer the following question:

A company has identified an opportunity to lightweight their product. Choose 1 of the following products:

1). A company manufacturing pushchair frames has identified opportunities for their frames to be lightweighted. The current frame is made of medium carbon steel.

2). A company supplying laboratory gas has identified opportunities for their pressure vessels to be lightweighted. The current pressure vessels are made of medium carbon steel.

3). An automotive manufacturer has identified opportunities for their cylinder blocks to be lightweighted. The current cylinder blocks are made of medium carbon steel.

a) Using the current material as a benchmark, consider alternative materials which could result in weight reduction and/or cost saving, while still ensuring the component is able to meet its functional requirements. From the identified alternative materials, choose the most suitable material and justify your choice. Selection factors may include, but not limited to, product functional requirements, material properties and economics.
Establish what the primary manufacturing process is for the component made of the current material. Would the new material result in a change in manufacturing process? Justify your answer. (60%) Appraise the significance of current  Manufacturing Technology in the context of Engineering Business Management

b) To ensure successful manufacture and use of the component made from the new material, CAD/CAM applications will be required. Identify and discuss which CAD/CAM applications would most likely be used for successful manufacture of the component made of the new material. What benefits would you gain from applying CAD/CAM?
CAD/CAM applications include, but are not limited to, CAD analysis/testing, CADCAM for prototype development and manufacture, mould design and CAM machining. (10%)

c) To ensure full implementation of the new component, determine the manufacturing route from raw materials entering the factory gates to the final product being assembled. What type of automation would be applied along the manufacturing route, and why? Perform a rudimentary cost analysis to establish the cost difference between the component made of the old and new material. (30%)

Word count

In terms of the length of your answers, you are advised NOT to exceed 4000 words in total (excluding table of contents, diagrams, figures, reference list, appendices, etc). A gross violation of the advised word count is likely to lead to loss of marks from those normally allocated for the ‘presentation’ aspects of your work. A penalty of 1% will be deducted for every 100 words over the limit. As a guideline, you might consider the following word counts for each of the questions:

Q1.1800 words

Q2.1100 words

Q3.1100 words

Remember it is the quality of the work that matters!

Module learning outcomes (numbered)

1. Appraise the significance of current  Manufacturing Technology in the context of Engineering Business Management
2. Evaluate  and contrast various materials and manufacturing processes that are most commonly used in manufacturing industry
3. Creatively  demonstrate material and process selection concepts to enable a more scientific approach to material and process selection decisions
4. Recognise and use Computer Aided Design & Manufacture and evaluate their implications for successful manufacture
5. Interpret the use and significance of Automation and Robotics in manufacture and evaluate their implications for successful manufacture

Learning outcomes assessed in this assessment (numbered)

1. Through systematic comparison of a component made of different materials, the different manufacturing technologies that are required to process each component and automation required to manufacture the product, the student will gain an understanding of the significance of manufacturing technology.
2. By researching into alternative lightweight materials, the student will evaluate and contrast various materials and manufacturing processes.
3. The student is asked to make informed decisions by considering selection concepts based on functional requirements, material properties suited to manufacturing and product use and economic factors.
4. Through considering how CAD/CAM applications may be applied in the successful change of material and further production of the component, the student will discuss and evaluate critical areas of application.
5. The student will analyse the proposed manufacturing route and evaluate types of automation, where automation is most appropriate, with justifications presented.

Marking guidelines

Q1 (60 marks total)

• Evaluate and compare various candidate materials, showing reasoning behind processing of narrowing down material list. Systematic and logical thought is shown, with justification of final material choice. (50%)
• Evaluate and compare various primary manufacturing processes to choose most suitable primary manufacturing process. Reasoning must be supported by use of selection factors (such as material type, product shape, and economics). (50%)

Q2 (10 marks total)

• Evaluation of product design and manufacture, showing clear reasoning why certain CAD/CAM applications would be used (40%)
• Identify and discuss the benefits of using these CAD/CAM applications. A discussion of what properties or manufacturing aspects would be analysed and the reasoning behind why they would be analysed (60%)

Q3 (30 marks total)

• Clear representation of manufacturing route, taking into account raw material extraction to final produced product. (30%)
• Clear reasoning shown in decision to automate certain sections along product life. (20%)
• Analysis of which types of automation or machinery and reasoning shown behind assigning specific automation type to that particular section of product life. (50%)

Academic guidance resources

Where further help may be received: for example, link to handbook, details of feed-forward, workshops, seminars  etc.

Writing your Post-Module Assignment (PMA): specific additional advice for WMG’s Postgraduate Taught Students

As a postgraduate level student in WMG you may have some concerns about your ability to write at the high standard required. This short guide is intended to provide general guidance and advice. It is important that if you have any questions you discuss them with your module tutor. Remember, in writing your PMA you need to meet the expectations of the reader and university.

A good PMA generally requires you to answer the question and to include… Manufacturing Technology ES9J1-10

1. A title, with your student number, module, lecturer’s name and any other documentation required by the university.
2. A contents page and if appropriate, an abstract.
3. An introduction which acts as a ‘map’ to the rest of the document, describing the aim or purpose of the work and explaining how this aim is achieved. At this point it is usually helpful to paraphrase your conclusion.
4. Evidence of an appropriate level of background reading of relevant texts.
5. Evidence of systematic and clear thinking, indicative of good planning and organisation.
6. Writing which makes sense, is clearly and carefully presented (proof-read and grammar checked).
7. A critical style of writing which compares and contrasts the main theories, concepts and arguments with conclusions that are based in evidence presented.
8. High levels of accurate academic referencing.
9. A logical and well-defined structure with headings and subheadings.
10. Clearly labelled and well-presented diagrams and other graphics that are discussed in the text.
11. Adherence to usual academic standards including length and a timely submission.
12. A reference section in which every source that is cited in the text is listed.
13. Appraise the significance of current  Manufacturing Technology in the context of Engineering Business Management

Where to get help: Manufacturing Technology ES9J1-10

Talk to your module tutor if you don’t understand the question or are unsure as to exactly what is required.

1. Study, Professional and Analytical Skills (SPA) Moodle site – we have a lot of resources on this website with workbooks, links and other helpful tools.  https://moodle.warwick.ac.uk/
2. The university Academic Writing centre provides workshops and useful tools to help you in all aspects of your work. https://warwick.ac.uk/services/skills/academicwriting/
3. Avoiding Plagiarism, the university’s site to help you to reference properly https://moodle.warwick.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=42224
4. Wellbeing support services https://warwick.ac.uk/services/wss
5. Numerous online courses provided by the University library to help in academic referencing, writing, avoiding plagiarism and a number of other useful resources. https://warwick.ac.uk/services/library/students/your-library-online/