University of Technology Sydney

41304 Production System Design

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 2025 is available in the Archives.

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

Recommended studies:

Students are recommended to have completed 41301 Industrial Engineering, 41053 Materials and Manufacturing Engineering A or an equivalent introductory subject in the area of manufacturing engineering.

Description

Manufacturing enterprises must design high performing production systems when facing requirements for increasing variety and flexibility. Production System Design tackles this challenge by systematically analysing, designing, and improving value streams. In this subject, students are equipped with knowledge and skills to classify production systems and understand performance and quality indicators in production systems. This includes methods, techniques and criteria for configuration and sizing of production systems, including buffering for production flows. Case studies from industrial practice are a vital element of this subject, to highlight the complexities of designing production systems.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

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

1. Demonstrate basic understanding of factory physics, performance, and quality indicators associated with production systems. (D.1)
2. Apply methods and techniques to design production systems and buffering of production flow. (C.1)
3. Analyse the business, social and environmental context of production systems. (B.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, interpret and analyse stakeholder needs and cultural perspectives, establish priorities and goals, and identify constraints, uncertainties and risks (social, ethical, cultural, legislative, environmental, economics etc.) to define the system requirements. (B.1)
  • Design Oriented: FEIT graduates apply problem solving, design and decision-making methodologies to develop components, systems and processes to meet specified requirements. (C.1)
  • Technically Proficient: FEIT graduates apply abstraction, mathematics and discipline fundamentals, software, tools and techniques to evaluate, implement and operate systems. (D.1)

Teaching and learning strategies

This subject is structured around a major production system design project geared towards solving a real-life problem in the context of production systems. The subject is offered in block mode, consisting of six full-day workshops in three blocks of two days. The first block covers the classification of production systems as well as measures for manufacturing performance and operating conditions. This equips students with the relevant knowledge and tools to complete the current state analysis of a production system of their choice (assessment task 1). The second block covers criteria for the selection and adoption of production systems as well as configuration, sizing and buffering of production flows. This enables students to complete the future state design (assessment task 2), building on their insights from the current state analysis (assessment task 1). The third block includes case studies and group presentations of the future state design (assessment task 2). Current state analysis and future state design can be based on the students’ workplace to ensure workplace alignment and relevance. Ongoing individual and group feedback will be provided in class when discussing concepts and tools and their application to case studies, during student consultations for the initial proposal for the current state analysis and online for assessment tasks.

Preparation materials for each block, e.g. short videos or case study readings, will be provided online as a basis for the discussion during the workshops. Workshops include a variety of interactive activities such as group and individual problem-solving sprints focusing on different aspects of production system design, more extensive case studies including presentations to facilitate practice-based learning.

Content (topics)

  • Classification of production systems
  • Framework to assess manufacturing performance and operating conditions
  • Criteria for the selection and adoption of a given production system
  • Configuration, sizing and buffering of production flows

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Current State Analysis

Intent:

The intent of this task is for students to be able to successfully analyse the current state of target production systems using basic principles discussed during workshops.

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 D.1

Type: Report
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 40%
Length:

Approximately 2000 words

Assessment task 2: Future State Design Presentation

Intent:

The intent of this task is for students to apply technical knowledge to collaboratively develop a design of, and to optimise, a target production system.

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):

B.1 and C.1

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

30min per group

Assessment task 3: Quiz

Intent:

The intent is to demonstrate a level of foundation knowledge in production systems.

Objective(s):

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

1

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

D.1

Type: Quiz/test
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 30%
Length:

60 minutes

Minimum requirements

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

Required texts

None

Recommended texts

Available online with subject materials