I. Assessment Requirements
Aim: To assess your ability to apply the techniques learnt in ENG30111 to analyse, understand, and improve engineering processes and to communicate these.
Task: Write a 2000 to 2500 word* report (not including data tables) describing the manufacture of a product relevant to your engineering discipline and apply statistical and other techniques from the module in analysing the processes utilised. Neither the product nor the manufacturing process needs to be taken from a real manufacturing scenario, however they should be realistic enough to enable analysis.
Suggested Structure:
• Briefly describe the company manufacturing the product.
• Describe the product being manufactured and the manufacturing process. You will not be directly assessed for either the quality of the product design nor the manufacturing process, however your process should be sufficiently realistic and detailed to enable analysis using the methods learnt in the module. Emphasis should be on clearly communicating the processes using flow charts and other methods.
• Illustrate techniques learnt during the module by applying them to the processes described. You will need to create example data for the processes to illustrate statistical techniques. Possible techniques include:
Kano model applied to classify product quality characteristics
Sampling techniques applied to estimate quality characteristics and determination of confidence intervals
Distributions of characteristics
Process capability calculations
Cause and effect analysis for manufacturing variables
Scatter diagrams showing the relationship between quality characteristics and manufacturing variables
Correlation and regression calculations for variables
Design of experiments and calculation of factor effects
Hypothesis tests / Analysis of Variance
Control charts and establishing control limits relevant to manufacturing processes
Application of methods from reliability engineering.
• Ensure that you not only apply the techniques but that you clearly explain what the objective of each technique is, why you are using it, how it can be applied to improve processes and what your conclusions are for your example data. You should also explain the limitations of your methods.
• Conclude with recommendations to management for the improvement of their engineering processes.
*If the word count causes problems, please discuss with the module leader.
II. Assessment Criteria
First Upper Second Lower Second Third Fail
Description of processes (20%) The company, product and manufacturing processes are described clearly and in detail with a genuine effort to explain relevant features in depth. Flow charts or other appropriate means are used to support descriptions. The product and manufacturing processes are described clearly. Flow charts or other appropriate means may be used to support descriptions. Key manufacturing processes are described in sufficient detail to enable analysis. Manufacturing processes are described but with insufficient depth or clarity making subsequent analysis problematic. No or inadequate description of manufacturing processes is provided.
Application of techniques
(60%) A wide range of techniques are used from across the module and applied to multiple processes. Example data is provided and calculations illustrated with appropriate application.
All techniques are thoroughly explained including their purpose and limitations. Clear and appropriate conclusions are drawn with suggestions for further investigation.
Analysis is synthesised into clear recommendations to management including setting up ongoing systems for process control and quality management. A wide range of techniques are used from across the module and applied to multiple processes. Example data is provided and calculations illustrated with appropriate application.
All techniques are explained including their purpose. There is consideration of the limitations of some techniques. Clear and appropriate conclusions are drawn.
Appropriate recommendations are made to management with reference to the outcome of techniques illustrated. A range of techniques are used from the module and applied to processes. Example data is provided and calculations illustrated with appropriate application.
Techniques are explained. There is discussion of the purpose or limitations of some techniques. Appropriate conclusions are drawn.
Some recommendations are made to management with reference to the outcome of techniques illustrated. Some techniques are used from the module and applied to processes. Calculations are illustrated with some attempt at application. The range of techniques is limited and / or techniques are not always appropriate.
Techniques are explained but not in sufficient detail. There is little discussion of the purpose or limitations of techniques. Conclusions drawn are unclear or inappropriate.
Recommendations to management are unclear or inappropriate. No or an inadequate range of techniques are illustrated. Little attempt is made at illustrating calculations.
Explanation of techniques is lacking / unclear / incorrect. No appropriate conclusions are drawn.
No or little attempt is made to make recommendations to management.
Style
(20%) Language is clear, formal and professional throughout. Excellent spelling and grammar.
All tables, graphs, diagrams and calculations are presented well and labelled where appropriate.
Structure of report is logical and has a clear organising principle. Language is generally clear, formal and professional. Good spelling and grammar with only occasional errors.
Tables, graphs, diagrams and calculations are presented well with only occasional mistakes.
Report is well-structured with appropriate sections. Language is not always as professional as it could be. Frequent spelling and grammar mistakes but these do not significantly detract from the flow or comprehensibility of the report.
Tables, graphs, diagrams and calculations contain errors but these do not undermine their purpose.
Report structure isn’t always clear. Language is not sufficiently formal or professional. Spelling and grammar mistakes impact upon the flow and comprehenisbility of the report.
Tables, graphs, diagrams and calculations contain frequent errors that sometimes undermine their purpose.
Structure of report is poor. Language is informal and unprofessional. Spelling and grammar mistakes make the report difficult to read.
Tables, graphs, diagrams and calculations have errors throughout that undermine their purpose.
No attempt to provide structure to the report.
III. Feedback Opportunities
Formative (Whilst you’re working on the coursework)
Weekly drop-in sessions from week 15 onwards. Students will also be given the opportunity to book appointments to discuss the assessment outside of class time.
Summative (After you’ve submitted the coursework)
Students will receive specific feedback regarding their coursework submission together with their awarded grade when it is returned to them. Clearly, feedback provided with your coursework is only for developmental purposes so that students can improve for the next assessment or subject-related module.
IV. Resources that may be useful
Referencing styles please use Harvard as detailed here
Guide to planning your time here and an automated planner here
Guidance for revision is here
Guidance on avoiding cheating is here
Remember to use Outlook or physical calendars to block out time between lectures and labs to work on this coursework.
V. Moderation
The Moderation Process
All assessments are subject to a two-stage moderation process. Firstly, any details related to the assessment (e.g., clarity of information and the assessment criteria) are considered by an independent person (usually a member of the module team). Secondly, the grades awarded are considered by the module team to check for consistency and fairness across the cohort for the piece of work submitted.
VI. Aspects for Professional Development
Your report provides evidence of your ability to analyse and explain manufacturing processes and to apply a variety of statistical and other techniques that are in common use in industrial settings.