GROUP DESIGN PROJECT - 2021/2

Module Overview

The year 3 Group Design Project provides an opportunity to work on a group based project in order to apply engineering science to design a customer specified product or system. In addition to the general design projects, some of the projects are specifically in the aerospace area (for aero students), some in Formula Student racing car area and the others in the medical engineering area depending on the program of the student. The project briefs are as realistic as possible and the mode of operation mimics the integrated team effort of a real workplace, with changing parameters and targets for subgroups and individuals depending on the work of other team members, and changing responsibilities through the life of the design process. Team working is integral to the experience. 

 

Module provider

Mechanical Engineering Sciences

Module Leader

DOHERTY John (Mech Eng Sci)

Number of Credits: 30

ECTS Credits: 15

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Year long

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• Students of mixed aptitude and ability, work in groups of 5 to 15 to produce initial outline specifications supplied by a project “customer”.


• The first part of the project usually involves a feasibility study, leading to a written Design Specification.


• In the second part the groups undertake a detailed design exercise based on selected areas of the feasibility study. This leads to a full report and a presentation.


• Design is controlled and progressed through group meetings at which group members rotate in the positions of chairman and secretary.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

If one of the units of assessment is failed, an alternative assessment (of product specification, preliminary design or detailed design) based on individual work can be offered for the failed unit of assessment, the group working aspects having been covered by the other assessments. If two or more units of assessment are failed, no alternative assessment is possible, and the group project will have to be re-assessed in its entirety in the following year.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate

• ability to carry out the project which involves a feasibility study, leading to a written Preliminary Design Review.


• ability to undertake a detailed design exercise based on selected areas of the feasibility study leading to a critical design review.


• ability to work effectively in a group.


• ability to present the group design work clearly and concisely.

• PDS [Learning outcome 1]                                                (15%)


• PDR [Learning outcome 2,3,4,6]                                      (40%)


• CDR [Learning outcome 2,3,4,6]                                      (40%)


• Group oral presentation [Learning outcome 1,3,5]      (5%) 

• Verbal feedback is given after PDS submission


• Written feedback is given after PDR and CDR submissions

Module aims

• a systematic understanding of the whole product design cycle from an initial idea to the manufactured product, through a number of iterations.
• knowledge of all stages and levels of the design process, including concept design, detail design and design for manufacture.
• a critical awareness of the importance and the implications of design deadlines
• a comprehensive understanding of effective team work to achieve design goals
• an understanding of the need for review, flexibility, and adaptability in the design process

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

UKSPEC Learning Outcomes: SM1b/m-3b/m, D1-6, , P1-5, EL2-3,EL6, G1, G3, G4,

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

1. Analyse customer requirements and apply scientific principles and methodology to derive product specifications (SM1b/m-3b/m, D1-2) – C,K,T


2. Plan and manage design work and processes within a team and apply relevant project management techniques to ensure that design solutions are derived on time and meet the customer needs (D3b/m, D4-5, EL2-3, EL6) – C,K,T,P


3. Apply advanced problem-solving skills, engineering knowledge and understanding to develop rigorous and creative solutions and to analyse/evaluate them in terms of functionality, including environmental, economic and social impact (D1-8m, EL1-6, P1-5, G1) – C,K,T


4. Work flexibly within a group and to adapt to changing requirements (EL3, D6) – C,T


5. Demonstrate the ability to clearly communicate and present work to different audiences (D6) – T,P

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: ENG3162

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.