Production Engineering and Operations Management MSc

at Coventry University

Why you should study this course
 

• A distinct advantage of our course is its vocational nature. We use real-life case studies and examples from local and regional industries, including automotive, aerospace, mechanical and engineering services and their supply chain.
• You may have opportunities to access the facilities of the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME), which can enable you to put your learning into practice, working on actual problems in partnership with Unipart to find solutions to current and emerging industrial challenges4.
• Teaching is informed by our strong portfolio of industrial research. Many of our academics come from an industrial background and are research active, engaged either in their own individual research area or as part of one of the University’s research institutes (Please note staff may be subject to change).
• Our industry connections may enable us to deliver a programme of exciting guest speakers, which in the past have included speakers from the BSI (British Standards Institution), Jaguar Land Rover, Rolls Royce and others from within the UK supply chain (guest speakers are subject to availability).
• Your studies will be split between our £50m Engineering and Computing Building and the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME), based at Unipart’s Coventry site. You can experience the latest technology on the manufacturing front line, which includes £3m of state-of-the-art robotic automation, forming, joining, analysis and simulation, metrology and product verification technology.
• You will have the chance to learn to identify opportunities for the application of new materials and processes and evaluate appropriate production control systems. At the same time, you can develop the skills to assess manufacturing issues with regard to strategic and financial implications, as well as work effectively in a team environment.
   

What you'll study
 

The course culminates with your dissertation, which provides an opportunity to apply the theories and techniques you have learned. It may focus on one area of study or involve a combination of subjects. In the past, students have considered topics such as comparison of industry across global sectors, the introduction of ERP (enterprise resource planning) systems, innovation of methods and techniques from one industry sector to another, design of automation or robotics etc.

Your project can be industry-based if you are already working or wish to gain an internship style industrial experience during the third semester2. For example, solving specific production problems experienced by a company, investigating the use of new technologies like 3D-printing, evaluating potential uses of new materials or production techniques or designing new systems or components for efficiency.

With the programme being so closely related with AME, there may also be opportunities for involvement with ongoing research projects run as part of the Institute’s normal research activities (subject to availability, application, meeting any applicable visa requirements and may incur additional costs). 

Modules
 

• Management of quality – 15 credits

  The intention of this module is to convey the importance of Quality as a strategy for continuous improvement in business performance. Accordingly, the module evolves through strategies for competitive quality, quality in design and manufacture and the customer supply chain to the concept of Total Quality.

  Compulsory
   

• Global Lean and Agile Operations – 15 credits

  In the fast-moving global marketplace of today, agility enables manufacturing industry to thrive in an environment of continuous and unanticipated change. Lean operations is often seen as a collection of operational techniques focused on the elimination of waste to increase productive use of resource to make value flow. This module will review both concepts and through industrial case studies and examples will enable you to assess how these two techniques can work together, evaluating the benefits and limitations.

  Compulsory
   

• Computer Aided Design – 15 credits

  This module will build on existing experience and aims to further strengthen your understanding of CAD by examining current industry standard methods and criteria and its relationship with production methods and part variation from design nominal dimensional values.

  Compulsory
   

• Automation and robotics – 15 credits

  The aim of this module is to provide an understanding of the application of automation techniques and mechatronics in manufacturing. Topics covered in the lectures include the types of robots, robot programming, programmable logic controllers, sensors, vision systems, motion control, safety systems, and design for manufacture.

  Compulsory
   

• Optimisation and Simulation – 15 credits

  The purpose of this module is to provide you with a broad understanding and knowledge of several production engineering and operations management concepts. You will be taught techniques to map and analyse and manage engineering production operations using Operational Research techniques including Simulation to identify problems and provide solutions before actual implementation. These techniques will be used to model and optimise both deterministic and probabilistic production engineering problems.

  Compulsory
   

• Industry 4.0 and the Engineering Digital Environment – 15 credits

  This module aims to provide you with knowledge of the key components of Industry 4.0 and how they can add value to engineering management and business performance. You should gain a comprehensive understanding of the capability of emerging digital engineering tools, and the current readiness of industry to embrace and adopt Industry 4.0 concepts.

  Compulsory
   

• Research Methods and Project Introduction – 15 credits

  This module aims to introduce the key concepts involved in research to enable you to carry out taught master’s projects. The module will develop the understanding of key research techniques and methodologies and will give you the opportunity to consider examples of relevant research methods. You will be engaged in practical exercises to develop your knowledge and choice of research skills and methods.

  Compulsory
   

• Future and Advanced Manufacturing Materials and Technologies – 15 credits

  The aim of this module is to investigate the introduction and use of leading-edge technologies, methods and materials currently used in advanced and high value manufacturing environments. You should learn to critically assess these advanced manufacturing areas in terms of cost, complexity of manufacture and end-of-life consequences.

  Compulsory
   

• Master’s Dissertation – 50 credits

  The project aims to provide you with the demonstrable competences in applying the concepts and skills acquired during the taught part of the course. The project may be a solution to a practical Industry problem/requirement or focus on a research topic. The project will culminate in a comprehensive, thorough and professional report.

  Compulsory
   

• Leading Strategic Change through Creativity and Innovation – 10 credits

  This module aims to provide you with a framework of knowledge and understanding of how to manage change using creativity and innovation in different types of organisational scenarios. You will critically assess strategies for change and change management and explore the leadership skills required to lead such successfully. 

  Compulsory

To enter this course, you should have a minimum 2:2 honour's degree in an appropriate engineering discipline such as Mechanical, Automotive, Motorsport, Manufacturing or Aerospace Engineering. However, entry qualifications are flexible, and applications are welcomed from other technical disciplines, mature candidates and those with industrial experience for review by the course director.
Students who do not fit with the above entry requirements are invited to apply and their degrees and experience will be assessed for appropriate content by the course director. Each application will be considered on its merits and the final decision will be made by the course director. 

English language requirements
 

• IELTS: 6.0 overall, with no component lower than 5.5. 

International Fees
£18,250 | £4,000 (Work placement option additional fee) none

International Pathways 2022 Scholarship
You could enjoy a £3,000 reduction in tuition fees.
Our high-quality foundation, international year one and pre-masters courses are for international students who do not meet the requirements for direct entry to their preferred Coventry University undergraduate or postgraduate course. We can support you to achieve the academic and/or English grades you need and help you gain the personal and professional skills required to study at university.

We want to encourage ambitious international students like you to study at Coventry University, so we’ve secured extra financial support for you worth £3,000, to help with the cost of tuition fees, living expenses and accommodation.
 

The scholarship application deadline is:
September 2022 intake: 31 July 2022

Upon successful completion, you will have knowledge of:
 

• The evaluation of current and emerging materials and their associated manufacturing processes and technologies.
• The optimisation of production engineering and production operations management using appropriate mathematical, statistical and simulation methods, recognising the limitations of these methods.
• The critical appreciation of the engineering and management challenges in global production operations including the ethical, legal, social, environmental and economic constraints.
• The systematic understanding of digital manufacturing technologies and approaches and the impact that digital artefacts and digital data has on the competitiveness of manufacturing environments.
   

You will be able to:
 

• Formulate innovative solutions to real-world problems and challenges with incomplete data through an ability to synthesise current and leading-edge knowledge.
• Evaluate the limitations of current and emerging products and technologies against both technical as well as commercial constraints.
• Design creative solutions to current and emergent problems by taking a holistic technical and non-technical perspective, including commercial and sustainability concepts.
• Apply appropriate engineering analysis methods for solving complex problems within production operations management, recognising any limitations and commercial and industrial constraints.
• Critically appraise how new knowledge is generated within production engineering and production operations management.
   

On successful completion of this course, you should have developed as a manufacturing engineer and increased your knowledge of the application of technology and developed your business and management skills. You could go on to pursue a successful career in manufacturing industry in roles, which typically include manufacturing engineering, process planning, production planning, quality, systems improvement, projects and operations management.