University of Technology Sydney

41301 Industrial Engineering

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Engineering: Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks

Description

As organisations are constantly pushed to be adaptive, flexible, and self-renewing, the need for operational excellence becomes Increasingly important. Fundamental to this challenge, Industrial Engineering addresses the complexity of planning and designing production and working systems. This includes operational excellence, focusing on increasing productivity while minimising waste. To this end, Lean Management has become one of the key approaches to achieve operational excellence, as well as one of the key assets of industrial engineers. Although originally focused on manufacturing, the key principles of Lean Management have expanded to other sectors and provide value well beyond manufacturing. Students are equipped with methods and tools to plan, design and optimise working and production systems. The main elements are the structure and standardisation of workflows, development of assembly concepts, planning material supply, and feasibility studies. Students aim to design productive and efficient working systems and processes.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate basic understanding of the elements of production and working systems in the context of social, environmental and economic needs. (B.1)
2. Analyse and improve production and working systems using basic industrial engineering concepts and methods. (C.1)
3. Apply the basic principles of communication in professional engineering contexts to concisely present insights to a technical and non-technical audience. (E.1)

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

  • Socially Responsible: FEIT graduates identify, engage, and influence stakeholders, and apply expert judgment establishing and managing constraints, conflicts and uncertainties within a hazards and risk framework to define system requirements and interactivity. (B.1)
  • Design Oriented: FEIT graduates apply problem solving, design thinking and decision-making methodologies in new contexts or to novel problems, to explore, test, analyse and synthesise complex ideas, theories or concepts. (C.1)
  • Collaborative and Communicative: FEIT graduates work as an effective member or leader of diverse teams, communicating effectively and operating autonomously within cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural contexts in the workplace. (E.1)

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies

This subject contributes to the development of the following Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies:

  • 1.5. Knowledge of engineering design practice and contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline.
  • 2.3. Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes.
  • 3.2. Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains.

Teaching and learning strategies

This subject is structured around solving real-life problems in the context of production and working systems. The subject consists of a 1hr class followed by 2hr tutorials weekly. Each class builds the necessary foundational knowledge and is a time for clarifications, questions and answers as well as opportunity to gain deeper understanding. The tutorials provide the practical skills to analyse and improve production and working systems.

Activities are highly interactive and emphasise active learning, collaboration and an appreciation of the complexities of real-life production and working system design. They also provide continuous opportunities for formative feedback. Ongoing individual and group feedback will be provided in tutorials, during student consultations and online for assessment tasks. Tutorials include a variety of learning and teaching activities such as short presentations, group and individual problem-solving activities focusing on different aspects of production and working system design, project work, and project presentations. Active and practice-based learning will be facilitated through case studies and practical exercises in a clearly defined and real-life context.

Content (topics)

  1. Industrial Engineering in today’s competitive environment.
  2. Analysis of the current state of a production and working system through the identification of value-adding activities and waste
  3. Visualisation of existing and future production and working systems using Lean Management methods and tools.
  4. Design of production and working systems ensuring efficiency, flexibility, and responsiveness using Lean Management methods and tools.
  5. Quality management in production and working systems.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Current State Analysis Pitch

Intent:

Pitch a simplified structure of a production and working system.

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

1 and 3

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

B.1 and E.1

Type: Report
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 10%
Length:

Max. 300 words

Assessment task 2: Current State Analysis Poster

Intent:

Communicate knowledge about analysis pertaining to the current state of a production and working system.

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

1 and 2

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

B.1 and C.1

Type: Design/drawing/plan/sketch
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 40%
Length:

One-page poster

Assessment task 3: Future State Design Presentation

Intent:

Develop and present a design of an improved future state of a production and working system. It builds on the Current State Analysis in Assessment Tasks 1 and 2.

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

1, 2 and 3

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

B.1, C.1 and E.1

Type: Presentation
Groupwork: Group, group assessed
Weight: 30%
Length:

10min per group

Assessment task 4: Synthesis and reflection

Intent:

Demonstrate ability to synthesise insights from various experiences in concise ways.

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

2 and 3

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

C.1 and E.1

Type: Report
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 20%
Length:

Max. 600 words

Minimum requirements

In order to pass the subject, a student must achieve an overall mark of 50% or more.

Recommended texts

See Canvas.