Overview
- Start dateFull-time: March or October. Part-time: throughout the year
- DurationOne year full-time, two-five years part-time
- DeliveryTaught modules 40%, Group project 20% (dissertation for part-time students), Individual project 40%
- QualificationMSc, PgDip, PgCert
- Study typeFull-time / Part-time
- CampusCranfield campus
Who is it for?
This course is suitable for graduates with science, engineering, IT or related degrees keen to develop careers in manufacturing or related industries, or academia; or graduates currently working in industry keen to extend their qualifications or pursue a career change; or individuals with other qualifications who possess considerable relevant experience.
I recommend Cranfield as the university of choice for students who wish to excel within manufacturing. The industry-informed taught modules have provided me a wide knowledge, and will guide my professional development in the longer term.
Boyang Song, PhD student
Why this course?
There are numerous benefits associated with undertaking a postgraduate programme of study here, including:
- Study in a postgraduate-only environment where Masters' graduates can secure positions in full-time employment in their chosen field, or undertake academic research
- Teaching by leading academics as well as industrial practitioners
- Work alongside a strong research team
- Dedicated support for off-campus learners including extensive information resources managed by the University's library
- Consultancy to companies supporting their employees on part-time programmes, in relation to individual projects.
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 assessed modules, a group project and an individual project. The modules include lectures and tutorials, and are assessed through practical work, written examinations, case studies, essays, presentations and tests. These provide the 'tools' required for the group and individual projects.
Course delivery
Taught modules 40%, Group project 20% (dissertation for part-time students), 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 are concerned.
Individual project
A key element of the Master's programme is the project work undertaken. The individual research project is either industrially or Cranfield University driven. Students select the individual project in consultation with the Course Director. It provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate independent research ability, the ability to think and work in an original way, contribute to knowledge, and overcome genuine problems in manufacturing. The projects are sponsored by industrial organisations.
Please note part-time students instead carry out a dissertation with their employer.
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.
Induction
| Module Leader |
|
|---|---|
| Aim |
To introduce the programme and the courses and the facilities available at Cranfield. |
| Syllabus |
• Project Management • Various interpersonal skills: Report writing and Presentation skills • Various MS Office training packages |
| Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module a student should be able to: 1. Have an appreciation of the Manufacturing Masters programme and course philosophy, structure, content, teaching methods, staff and administration. 2. Be familiar with key facilities (internal and external to Cranfield) and resources such as the library, computer network and Careers Service. 3. Have essential, fundamental knowledge prior to the study including a range of computing-related skills. 4. Have experienced team building and other interpersonal skills including written and verbal communication skills. 5. Appreciate the importance of time/project management throughout the study. 6. Appreciate the importance of Health and Safety at workplace. |
Operations Management
| Aim |
To introduce you to core factors of managing operations. |
|---|---|
| Syllabus |
|
| Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to: 1. Assess the key capacity determinant in an operation, and carry out an analysis to develop the most appropriate approach in response to changes in demand. 2. Select and apply appropriate approaches and tools to determine standards and improve processes. 3. Determine the information needed to support businesses, in particular manufacturing operations. 4. Assess and select appropriate Just-in-Time (JIT) tools to improve operations. 5. 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. |
Enterprise Systems
| Aim |
The module aims to provide a systematic understanding and knowledge of the enterprise systems principles and how to use these systems to manage an enterprise. The course will also provide hands-on experience using SAP as a leading industry-standard software application. |
|---|---|
| Syllabus |
• Enterprise wide IT systems. Managing Enterprise through ERP. • Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP): concepts, techniques and tools. • ERP selection and implementation issues. • An Introduction to IoT and Cyber Security. • SAP based hands-on case studies. |
| Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to: 1. Describe the principles of business functions, processes and data infrastructure. 2. Explain the concepts, tools and techniques of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and its related subjects such as IoT and Cyber Security. 3. Evaluate issues and challenges in ERP implementation and the importance of Enterprise-wide systems to business operations. 4. Identify the various criteria for ERP selection. 5. Demonstrate working/application knowledge on the use of SAP tool through hands-on case studies. |
Operations Analysis
| Aim |
To develop your skills to a rigorous and logical application of tools and techniques for the design and control operational systems. |
|---|---|
| Syllabus |
• Six Sigma, Process capability, common and special cause variability, control charts, acceptance sampling. • Lean Manufacturing elements such as Value Stream Mapping and Waste identification. • 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 you will be able to: 1) Combine tools for assessing, controlling and improving processes, and their strengths and limitations. 2) Analyze the relationship between work-in-process, lead-time and output in a production system and the impact of variability. 3) Decide the appropriate Six Sigma, Statistical Process Control tools and techniques and lean manufacturing approaches for different manufacturing cases. 4) Develop a ‘systems view’ of manufacturing and servicing operations. 5) Integrate unreliabilityin maintenance techniques can be deployed. 6) Critically appraise appropriate performance measurement system deployment. |
Manufacturing Systems Engineering
| Aim |
To develop your understanding of complex manufacturing systems engineering through the application of different modelling and simulation tools, techniques and methodologies with a view to analyse and (re)design manufacturing systems that maximise value to customers while minimising waste. |
|---|---|
| Syllabus |
• Design of manufacturing layouts. • Group Technology & Cellular manufacturing in the context of Human centred factory design. • Manufacturing Systems modelling using discrete-event simulation, Systems dynamics and Agent-based simulation techniques and methodologies. • Case study Analysis of manufacturing systems using simulation. |
| Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you 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 and, in particular, appraise the effectiveness of cellular configurations. 3. 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. |
Internet of Things
| Aim |
|
|---|---|
| Syllabus |
|
| Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to: 1. Appraise the key concepts of Internet of Things, and inspect enabling Industry 4.0 technologies. 2. Evaluate use cases of theoretical concepts. 3. Assess recent and evolving developments, protocols and technologies for IoT enabled systems and Industrial Internet of things (IIoT). 4. Outline IoT-enabled innovation opportunities and apply the cognitive, practical and key transferable skills necessary for IoT enabled applications and services by proposing your own IoT enabled solution 5. Identify key challenges in the delivery and take-up of IoT-enabled solutions, highlighting the importance of security, privacy and ethics |
Supply Chain Management
| Aim |
To introduce you to the wider issues surrounding the management and optimisation of supply chains. |
|---|---|
| Syllabus |
|
| Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
|
Manufacturing Strategy
| Aim |
To develop your 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 you should be able to: 1. Evaluate competitive advantage for manufacturing strategy. 2. Demonstrate manufacturing strategy formulation. 3. Apply a structured methodology to create a competitive manufacturing strategy. 4. Assess the impact of a proposed manufacturing strategy on business performance. |
Implementing Effective Change in Manufacturing
| Aim |
To prepare you with the knowledge and skills required to influence, lead, and manage feasible change programmes effectively within the manufacturing industry. |
|---|---|
| Syllabus |
Innovation & Technology. Business Finance and Investment Appraisals. Business Case Development. Project Management. Implementing Change. |
| Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to: |
Teaching team
You will be taught by internationally leading academics and practitioners. This will ensure you are aware of cutting-edge tools, techniques and innovations. The course is directed by an industrial advisory committee comprising senior representatives from leading manufacturing and business organisations. This means the skills and knowledge you acquire are relevant to employer requirements. The Course Director for this programme is Dr Mohamed Afy-Shararah.
Accreditation
The Engineering and Management of Manufacturing Systems MSc is accredited by 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 (CEng).
Candidates must hold a CEng accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to show that they have satisfied the educational base for CEng registration.
Please note accreditation applies to the MSc award, PgDip and PgCert (if offered) do not meet in full the further learning requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer.
Your career
Cranfield manufacturing graduates are highly sought after by industry. Many graduates take on appointments with a wide range of manufacturing enterprises or, increasingly, apply their skills to other sectors from financial services through to health care.
Cranfield Careers and Employability Service
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
Click on the ‘Apply Now’ button to start your online application.
There is a non-refundable application fee of £75 for this course for 2024-25 entry onward.
Find out more about the application fee and how to pay it.
See our Application guide for information on our application process and entry requirements.
