Introductory description

The MSc Manufacturing Process Technology module has been developed to meet the demands of industry, and will provide a comprehensive overview of the important manufacturing technologies.

During the course, various modern manufacturing technologies will be introduced and discussed, including their operating principles, typical materials used, process economics and applications.
The course will aim to provide learners with an appreciation of the methods that can be used to select manufacturing technologies appropriate to the design requirements. It will also provide them an understanding of what tools and techniques are available to them to assess how the key stages of a product lifecycle affect the product’s ecological footprint, and the impact of that on the selection of manufacturing process.

The course will also introduce methodologies to assess how the product design affects manufacturing cost and how that can impose constraints on the manufacturing process selection.

Module web page

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.

DFMA tools and exercise.
Joining technologies.
Polymer materials and processing.
Some generic needs for selecting processes.
Selecting processes using Ashby diagrams.
Hands on introduction to CES and generic outputs.
Process selection through cost analysis using CES.
Life Cycle Analysis.
Polymer composites manufacturing processes.
Sheet metal forming.
Casting technologies.
Powder processing.
Manufacturing process selection using CES.
Manufacturing process selection using Eco Analysis.
Laser manufacturing processes.
3D Printing.
Non-traditional manufacturing processes.

Learning outcomes

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

• Interpret a product specification and systematically apply comprehensive knowledge of current advanced manufacturing process technologies that are used at the forefront of today’s manufacturing, their operating principles, typical materials used, process economics and applications for the manufacture of the product.
• Critically evaluate a product and systematically apply current tools to make an informed and sound selection of manufacturing process technologies for a product.
• Interpret the design efficiency of a product through a sound knowledge of DfMA techniques and their application to a complex product and how the design can influence the choice of manufacturing process.
• Critically evaluate the key through-life environmental impacts of a product, and apply advanced knowledge of the tools and techniques available to critically evaluate the impact of the choice of manufacturing process and material choices on the ecological footprint of a product.

Indicative reading list

Fundamentals of modern manufacturing: materials, processes, and systems, 7th Edition, Groover, Mikell P., Wiley, 2019, ISBN 13- 978-1119475293

Additive Manufacturing Technologies: 3D Printing, Rapid Prototyping, and Direct Digital Manufacturing, Ian Gibson, David Rosen & Brent Stucker, Springer, 2nd ed, 2016, ISBN-13 978-1493944552

Manufacturing engineering and technology, Serope Kalpakjian, Steven R. Schmid, K. S. Vijay Sekar, Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd, Seventh edition in SI units, 2014, ISBN-10 9810694067

Product design for manufacture and assembly, Boothroyd, G., Dewhurst, Peter, Knight, W. A., CRC Press, 3rd ed, 2011, ISBN-10 1420089277

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Subject specific skills

DfMA, process selection, manufacturing process capability knowledge, additive manufacturing process knowledge

Transferable skills

Teamwork, Technology Literacy, Communication(adapting style to audience, confidence, giving and receiving feedback, respect), Leadership (patience, creativity, positivity, team building)