Technology, Innovation and Engineering Management

Learning Outcomes

Description
This course consists of a number of modules that provide knowledge that addresses the core field of engineering management.

SYSTEMS ENGINEERING:
This module provides an overview of systems thinking and systems engineering. The student will then explore methods of designing and developing complex systems in terms of hierarchy and life cycle. The need for sound specification practices is emphasised.

INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT:
This module introduces key concepts and furthers the understanding of the role of innovation and technology and their efficient management to build and maintain a competitive edge in business. Innovation and technology management links engineering, science and management principles to identify, choose and implement the most effective means of attaining compatibility between internal skills and resources of an organisation and its competitive, economic and social environment.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT:
this module provides participants with the knowledge and skills to manage projects over a wide spectrum of application areas.

MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT
this module addresses the fundamentals of Reliability Centered Maintenance as it relates to system and equipment supportability and maintenance. By the end of the module students will be able to:
 understand the concepts of reliability, availability and maintainability and place these in the context of totally integrated system support .

OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT:
this module covers knowledge needed to design and understand as well as manage typical manufacturing operations in an engineering environment.

QUALITY MANAGEMENT:
understanding the management of quality within a manufacturing and engineering operations environment. Students gain an understanding of the History of Quality, Quality Management, TQM and Business Excellence including evaluating the use of various "models" and frameworks" including the International "Baldridge" best practice framework

SYSTEMS ENGINEERING
Session 1:
Overview of system engineering, including its evolution. Relationships within systems engineering

Session 2:
Systems engineering concepts and processes. Description of each systems engineering process activity

Session 3:
Key issues in organising an integrated product and process team and setting up the communications mechanisms required for team success.

Session 4:
A description of several capability models for systems engineering

INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT

Session 1:
Technology and Competitive Advantage - Opportunities for integrating the company's technological resources into an overall technology strategy, interactions between operational functions, development of innovative organisational capabilities to encourage and support the realisation of technology-based opportunities and investment in technology.

Session 2:
Technological Analysis, Trends and Forecasting - Technological development analysis and trends forecasting techniques to assist in identifying potential new development and opportunities, evolution and revolution in product and process technology, invention and innovation, advanced manufacturing processes, product development cycles.

Session 3:
Acquisition and Transfer Technology - Internal and external sources, individual and joint innovation and research, strategic alliances for technological development, managing the transfer of technology within and between organisations, the human skill component of innovative and technological capabilities, learning across development projects.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Session 1: PROJECT MANAGEMENT CONCEPTS
Course structure and objectives
Definition of concepts
Project life-cycle
Process steps

Session 2: NEEDS IDENTIFICATION
Need identification
Developing a Request for Proposal
Proposal solication process

Session 3: PLANNING
Project objective
Developing a WBS
Responsibility
Network diagram

Session 4: SCHEDULING
Estimating duration of activities
Start and finish times
Project duration
Resource constraints
Schedule control

Session 5: COST AND SCHEDULE CONTROL
Items to consider when estimating
Preparation of a baseline budget
Cumulating actual costs
Forecasting project cost at completion
Controlling project costs
Managing cash flow

Session 6: SUPPORTING ISSUES
The Project Manager
The Project Team
Software for Project Management
Forecasting project cost at completion
Controlling project costs
Managing cash flow

MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT
Session 1:
Reliability Issues
Overview of reliability in equipment design and maintenance

Session 2:
Reliability Centred Maintenance
Overview of RCM principles
RCM task selection
Worksheet exercise
Discussion of application to work environment

Session 3:
Case Studies
Class discussion of cases

OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT

Session 1:
Introduction
Manufacturing Operations
Issues Facing NZ Manufacturers
MRP Systems

Session 2:
Inventory Management
People Issues in Operations Management
Measures and Management

Session 3:
Supply Chain, Site Visit to witness a complex operation in action, Design for Supply Chain

Session 4:
Theory of Constraints, Site Visit to witness how constraints are dealt with

Session 5:
Lean Systems, Operations Strategy


QUALITY MANAGEMENT

Session 1:
Holistic view of  the business/organisation including identification of the functional elements involved and the alignments and integration of the various functions within a business.

Session 2:  
Organisational Performance improvement including the use of business evaluation tools, scoring methodologies and planning processes.

Session 3:
"Best practice" processes by business function, in use both Nationally and Internationally.

Session 4:
Strategic Performance Measurement via the use of a Balanced Scorecard methodology and including target setting and Benchmarking.

Session 5:
Quality Tools and their practical applications.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
Knowledge
This course develops specialised operational and technical knowledge in the area of engineering management.  It also develops specialised operational knowledge of the preparation of engineering management plans.  It is the foundation course for a follow on course which develops knowledge of strategy.  Students will demonstrate broad understanding and integrating of the knowledge via group discussion in class and individual assignments that are based on information extracted from actual engineering management and project situations. Specific knowledge is also demonstrated in the skills and application assessment items.

Skills
Students’ observational and analytical skills in the area will be developed through class discussions and in-class case studies and will be assessed through assignments for largely unfamiliar style problems.  Students will also demonstrate skill to analyse and generate solutions to complex and sometimes unpredictable problems.

Application
Innovation and technology management links engineering, science and management principles to identify, choose and implement the most effective means of attaining compatibility between internal skills and resources of an organisation and its competitive, economic and social environment.  

Project management is the vehicle by which engineers deliver the results of innovation and operations management provides the knowledge and skills by which an ongoing engineering operation is managed and also maintained.

Students will apply their knowledge and analytical skills to eventually be able to assess and interpret particular engineering management situations in a real-world situation. Students must manage their time and work with others to both validate and transfer knowledge.

The assignments require the synthesising opinions on a particular situation and then evaluating the particular systems, innovation, project, maintenance or operational implications.  The results must be communicated in a professional report.

This module introduces key concepts and furthers the understanding of the role of innovation and technology and their efficient management to build and maintain a competitive edge in business. Innovation and technology management links engineering, science and management principles to identify, choose and implement the most effective means of attaining compatibility between internal skills and resources of an organisation and its competitive, economic and social environment. This subject provides managers with a set of concepts and tools to improve the competitiveness of their organisation.

Prerequisites

For further information see Masters in Engineering Management .