Overview
- Start dateFull-time: October or March. Part-time: throughout the year
- DurationFull-time MSc - one year, Part-time MSc - up to three years, Full-time PgCert - one year, Part-time PgCert - two years, Full-time PgDip - one year, Part-time PgDip - two years
- DeliveryTaught modules 40%, Group project 20%, Individual project 40%
- QualificationMSc, PgDip, PgCert
- Study typeFull-time / Part-time
- CampusCranfield campus
Who is it for?
This course develops future aerospace manufacturing engineers and managers who will be able to manage major improvement programmes or instigate intervention that delivers improvements to the performance of their aerospace manufacturing businesses.
Why this course?
The course combines Cranfield's long standing expertise for delivering high-quality Masters' programmes in both aerospace and manufacturing. Courses receive strong support from the global aerospace industry, both the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) such as Airbus and Rolls-Royce, as well as their tiers of supplier. There is a strong emphasis on applying knowledge in the industrial environment and all teaching is in the context of industrial application. Many features of this course are shared with the Engineering and Management of Manufacturing Systems MSc, but this course specifically prepares graduates to embark on a career in aerospace manufacturing.
Students benefit from our wide range of equipment, analysis tools and specialist software packages. The course objectives are achieved through a carefully integrated and structured series of eight one-week assessed modules, a group project and an individual project.
Informed by industry
Our courses are designed to meet the training needs of industry and have a strong input from experts in their sector. Students who have excelled have their performances recognised through course awards. The awards are provided by high profile organisations and individuals, and are often sponsored by our industrial partners. Awards are presented on Graduation Day.
Course details
The course comprises eight modules (five compulsory and three electives), a group project and an individual project.
The modules include lectures, workshops, case studies, tutorials and company visits. Students need to complete a mix of modules that are fundamental to aerospace manufacturing systems and modules that are technology related.
Course delivery
Taught modules 40%, Group project 20%, Individual project 40%
Group project
The group project experience is highly valued by both students and prospective employers. Teams of students work to solve an industrial problem. The project applies technical knowledge and provides training in teamwork and the opportunity to develop non-technical aspects of the taught programme. Part-time students can prepare a dissertation on an agreed topic in place of the group project.
Industrially orientated, our team projects have support from external organisations. As a result of external engagement Cranfield students enjoy a higher degree of success when it comes to securing employment. Prospective employers value the student experience where team working to find solutions to industrially based problems is concerned.
Individual project
The individual thesis project, usually in collaboration with industry, offers students the opportunity to develop their research capability, depth of understanding and ability to provide solutions to real problems in aerospace manufacturing production systems.
Modules
Keeping our courses up-to-date and current requires constant innovation and change. The modules we offer reflect the needs of business and industry and the research interests of our staff and, as a result, may change or be withdrawn due to research developments, legislation changes or for a variety of other reasons. Changes may also be designed to improve the student learning experience or to respond to feedback from students, external examiners, accreditation bodies and industrial advisory panels.
To give you a taster, we have listed the compulsory and elective (where applicable) modules which are currently affiliated with this course. All modules are indicative only, and may be subject to change for your year of entry.
Course modules
Compulsory modules
All the modules in the following list need to be taken as part of this course.
Aircraft Assembly
| Module Leader |
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|---|---|
| Aim |
To develop students’ understanding of aircraft assembly methods and techniques that are effective and efficient and at the same time meet quality and safety requirements. |
| Syllabus |
• Assembly jigs and fixtures • Aircraft assembly layouts and processes • Composite wing assembly • Automated fastening machines • Sealants and adhesives • Automation in aircraft assembly • Application of metrology |
| Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module a student should be able to: 1. Apply comprehensive knowledge of manufacturing flow and layout to aircraft assembly. 2. Demonstrate understanding of aircraft structures (fuselage, wing). 3. Appraise various methods of assembly of composite materials. 4. Appraise different advanced joining techniques used in aircraft assembly. 5. Formulate a holistic approach to analysis and design of aircraft assembly processes. 6. Understand the future technologies that will influence the assembly of next generation aircraft. |
Manufacturing Strategy
| Aim |
To develop skills to analyse and manage the direction of a business, to design and develop manufacturing strategy to deliver competitive advantage and plan effective deployment of a strategy. |
|---|---|
| Syllabus |
• Benchmarking of manufacturing system performance. • Manufacturing strategy in business success. • Strategy formation and formulation, leading on to system design. • Structured strategy formulation and system design methodologies. • Approaches to strategy formulation in differing business contexts. • Realisation of new strategies/system designs, including approaches to implementation. • Case study on design of competitive manufacturing strategy. |
| Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module a student should be able to: 1. Describe the role of manufacturing within business strategy. 2. Define and explain manufacturing strategy process and content, emergent and intended strategy, competitive edge criteria and decision areas. 3. Explain how the various approaches to manufacturing strategy formation complement different business circumstances. 4. Demonstrate manufacturing strategy formulation. 5. Apply a structured methodology to create a manufacturing strategy. 6. Assess the impact of a proposed manufacturing strategy on business performance. |
Manufacturing Systems Engineering
| Aim |
To develop students’ understanding of manufacturing systems engineering in order to analyse and (re)design manufacturing systems that maximise value to customers while minimising waste. |
|---|---|
| Syllabus |
• Human centred factory design. • Group Technology & Cellular manufacturing. • Different approaches to factory layout such as process and product layouts. • Reasons for choice of cellular manufacturing and benefits. • Manufacturing Systems modelling using discrete-event simulation. • Analysis of manufacturing systems using simulation. |
| Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module a student should be able to: 1. Differentiate the applicability of different layout types applicable in manufacturing businesses. 2. Assess how production layout and system design influences productivity 3. Appraise the effectiveness of cellular configurations . 4. Design a graphical simulation model using an industry leading discrete-event simulation tool. 5. Contrast discrete-event simulation to other modelling techniques especially in addressing emerging manufacturing paradigms. 6. Devise an experimental procedure and interpret the consequential results of the simulation model. |
Operations Management
| Aim |
To introduce core factors of managing operations. |
|---|---|
| Syllabus |
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| Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module a student should be able to: 1. Apply the ‘Framework for the Management of Operations’ to all operations, from pure service to pure manufacturing. 2. Identify the key capacity determinant in an operation, and carry out an analysis to develop the most appropriate approach in response to changes in demand. 3. Select and apply appropriate approaches and tools to determine standards and improve processes. 4. Determine the information needed to support businesses, in particular manufacturing operations. 5. Analyse problems rigorously to develop options, and select an appropriate option taking into consideration relevant factors such as risk, opportunities, cost, flexibility, and time to implement. 6. Select appropriate Just-in-Time (JIT) tools to improve operations. 7. Develop appropriate quality systems for the whole of their supply chain – from supplier, through operations to customers – and ensure these systems are sustained and a culture of continuous improvement prevails. |
Supply Chain Management
| Aim |
To develop skills to analyse and manage the direction of a business, to design and develop manufacturing strategy to deliver competitive advantage and plan effective deployment of a strategy. |
|---|---|
| Syllabus |
• Benchmarking of manufacturing system performance. • Manufacturing strategy in business success. • Strategy formation and formulation, leading on to system design. • Structured strategy formulation and system design methodologies. • Approaches to strategy formulation in differing business contexts. • Realisation of new strategies/system designs, including approaches to implementation. • Case study on design of competitive manufacturing strategy. |
| Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module a student should be able to: 1. Describe the role of manufacturing within business strategy. 2. Define and explain manufacturing strategy process and content, emergent and intended strategy, competitive edge criteria and decision areas. 3. Explain how the various approaches to manufacturing strategy formation complement different business circumstances. 4. Demonstrate manufacturing strategy formulation. 5. Apply a structured methodology to create a manufacturing strategy. 6. Assess the impact of a proposed manufacturing strategy on business performance. |
Elective modules
A selection of modules from the following list need to be taken as part of this course
Additive and Subtractive Manufacturing Technologies
| Aim |
To provide the student with an understanding of the principles behind some of the most recent developments in the processing of high value added components. There is a strong emphasis on high efficiency and reduced cost in the manufacture of high volume and/or high value added parts using the latest technology based around advanced machining processes and additive techniques. The module will cover the physical principles, operating characteristics and practical aspects related to these key technologies. |
|---|---|
| Syllabus |
• Abrasive machining processes and practice • Non-conventional machining including photochemical machining and associated metal removal and addition processes • Micro machining and micro moulding • Machine tool components and machine-materials interactions. |
| Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module a student should be able to:
1. Critically review recent developments in machining and fabrication processes for the production of engineering components and identify their main areas of application and limitations. 2. Describe and apply the relationships between material properties, processing conditions and component service performance. 3. Analyse how the physical principles behind the operation of these processes can be used to monitor process capability and performance. 4. Apply design rules and fabrication techniques to manufacture micro components. 5. Assess different routes for the high volume manufacture of micro components. |
Advanced Welding Processes
| Module Leader |
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|---|---|
| Aim |
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| Syllabus |
• Laser welding including micro-welding and hybrid processes • Laser material interactions • Laser sources, optics and fibre optics • Advanced arc welding processes • Solid state welding processes • Friction welding • Additive manufacture • Advanced resistance welding • Dissimilar material welding • Repair welding • Weld metal engineering • Electron beam welding • Process monitoring • Other laser processes • Material characteristics and response to laser • Weld metal engineering • Laser safety |
| Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module a student should be able to: 1. Illustrate and describe physical principles behind the operation of these processes. 2. Select the most appropriate welding system for a particular application and analyse the economic benefits. 3. Describe physical and engineering principles behind selective applications for welding processes and critique methods for maximising process efficiency. 4. Appraise recent developments in welding technology and identify where these new processes can be used. |
Composites Manufacturing for High Performance Structures
| Module Leader |
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|---|---|
| Aim |
To provide a detailed awareness of current and emerging manufacturing technology for high performance composite components and structures and an understanding of materials selection and the design process for effective parts manufacturing. |
| Syllabus |
• Practical demonstrations – lab work • Overview of established manufacturing processes, developing processes, automation and machining • Introduction to emerging process developments; automation, textile preforming, through thickness reinforcement • Design for manufacture, assembly techniques and manufacturing cost • Case studies from aerospace, automotive, motorsport, marine and energy sectors • DVD demonstrations of all processing routes |
| Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module a student should be able to: 1. Demonstrate awareness of the range of modern manufacturing techniques for thermoset and thermoplastic type composites. 2. Select appropriate manufacturing techniques for a given composite structure/ application. 3. Demonstrate practical handling of prepregs and a range of fibre forms and resins. 4. Describe current areas of technology development for composites processing. 5. Demonstrate awareness of the design process for high performance composite structures and the influence on design of the manufacturing process. 6. Evaluate performance-cost balance implications of materials and process choice. |
Failure of Materials and Structures
| Aim |
To provide an understanding of why materials and structures fail and how failure conditions can be predicted in metallic and non-metallic components and structures. |
|---|---|
| Syllabus |
• LEFM and crack tip stress fields, stress concentration, stress intensity, plane stress and plane strain. Fracture toughness in metallic materials, fracture toughness testing, calculations of critical defect sizes and failure stress. Crack tip plastic zones; the HRR field, CTOD, J Elastic- plastic failure criteria. Defect assessment failure assessment diagrams. • Fracture of rigid polymers and standard tests for fracture resistance of polymers. Delamination fatigue tests. Emerging CEN/ISO standards, current ESIS test procedures. • Crack extension under cyclic loading; Regimes of fatigue crack growth; Influence of material properties and crack tip plastic zones; Calculation of crack growth life and defect assessment in fatigue; Crack closure and variable amplitude loading; Short cracks and the limits of LEFM. • Software design tools for fatigue crack growth. • Static loading-stress corrosion cracking; corrosion fatigue. |
| Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module a student should be able to: 1. Assess the different regimes and processes of failure of cracked bodies and describe the factors controlling them and the boundaries and limits between them. 2. Distinguish the principles of Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM) and demonstrate their application to cracks in brittle, ductile and fibre composites through calculation of static failure conditions. 3. Calculate the limits of applicability of LEFM and apply modified predictive tools such as elastic-plastic fracture mechanics and failure assessment diagrams for calculation of failure. 4. Appraise fracture mechanics to failure of cracked bodies under cyclic loads and under aggressive chemical environments to evaluate and predict service lives of structures. 5. Evaluate laboratory fracture mechanics data and critically assess its validity for application to particular engineering situations. |
Operations Analysis
| Aim |
To develop in students a rigorous and logical application of tools and techniques for the design and control operational systems. |
|---|---|
| Syllabus |
• Analysis of systems to produce simple models. IDEF0 and IDEF3 and their application. Business process fundamentals and the process review. Improvement procedures, modelling methods and process models. Performance measurement. Responding to and improving reliability. |
| Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module a student should be able to: 1. Demonstrate knowledge of tools for assessing, controlling and improving processes, and their strengths and limitations. 2. Explain the relationship between work-in-process, lead-time and output in a production system and the impact of variability. 3. Understand the different elements of lean production and its applicability. 4. Demonstrate an understanding of process mapping approaches, relevant terminology and the basic methods involved. 5. Demonstrate an understanding Six Sigma and Statistical Process Control tools and techniques. 6. Take a ‘systems view’ of manufacturing and servicing operations. 7. Understand the impact of unreliability and how maintenance techniques can be deployed. 8. Critically appraise appropriate performance measurement system deployment. |
Teaching team
You will be taught by experts from Cranfield and industry with substantial experience in teaching, project supervision, research and consultancy. The academics have published in leading journals and books and have worked closely with world-class manufacturers. The Course Director for this programme is Dr Konstantinos Salonitis and the Admissions Tutor for this programme is Matthew Caffrey
Accreditation
Re-accreditation for the MSc in Aerospace Manufacturing is currently being sought with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) and Institution of Engineering & Technology (IET) on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer.
Candidates must hold a CEng accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to comply with full CEng registration requirements.
Please note accreditation applies to the MSc award. PgDip and PgCert do not meet in full the further learning requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer.
Cranfield is the key that can open you the door to the real life environment and if you are willing to work hard to show the world what you are capable of, they will see your true potential and bet for you.
Anxo Rodríguez Rodríguez, Process Owner and Digital Engineer
Your career
This qualification takes you on to a wide range of aerospace manufacturing roles such as management, operations, logistics and technology-related functions within global aerospace manufacturing organisations. Many graduates find employment with one of their project sponsors.
Explore careers in manufacturing with our 'Making an impact in the manufacturing industry' brochure. This brochure highlights journeys taken by professionals in the manufacturing industry through different roles and technologies, as well as providing some key tips to guide you along the way.
Cranfield’s Career Service is dedicated to helping you meet your career aspirations. You will have access to career coaching and advice, CV development, interview practice, access to hundreds of available jobs via our Symplicity platform and opportunities to meet recruiting employers at our careers fairs. Our strong reputation and links with potential employers provide you with outstanding opportunities to secure interesting jobs and develop successful careers. We will support you in the job application process for up to three years after graduation.
How to apply
Online application form. UK students are normally expected to attend an interview and financial support is best discussed at this time. Overseas and EU students may be interviewed by telephone.
