Automation and Digital Manufacturing MSc

Program Overview

The Automation and Digital Manufacturing MSc program equips graduates with advanced knowledge and practical skills in automation systems and digital technologies for high-tech manufacturing. Through industry partnerships and a practice-led teaching approach, students gain expertise in designing and implementing digitalization solutions, process optimization, and Digital Twins. The program prepares graduates for careers in various sectors, including automotive, food production, and robotics, where automation and digital manufacturing are transforming industries.

Program Outline

Automation and Digital Manufacturing MSc

Degree Overview:

• Focus: Equips graduates with advanced knowledge and practical skills in automation systems and digital technologies for high-tech manufacturing.
• Target Audience: Graduates aspiring to work in automation and digital manufacturing roles in high-tech industries like automotive, food production, advanced manufacturing, robotics, and others.
• Industry Partnerships: Supported by companies like Siemens, Festo, Omron, ABB, National Instruments, Altium, and WorldSkills UK.
• Curriculum: Developed by a Connected Curriculum Board managed by Siemens and Festo, bringing industry practices and technologies to academic programs.
• Program Benefits:
• High-level practical skills and advanced knowledge in automation systems involving state-of-the-art technology.
• Ability to design and work with Digital Twins.
• Capability to carry out process optimization and analytics using discrete event modeling.
• Capacity to implement digitalization in manufacturing organizations.
• Course Duration: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time

Outline:

• Course Structure: Three academic terms, each 12 weeks long.
• Term 1:
• Focuses on drives, sensors, PLCs, robotic applications, software modeling of automation systems, additive manufacturing, AR/VR, and design strategies for digital manufacture.
• Term 2:
• Group project applying Term 1 knowledge and skills to a digital enterprise.
• Input on PLM solutions, process simulation and analytics, industry 4.0 technologies, and Digital Twins.
• Term 3:
• Individual project proposed by the student or selected from research centers or industry partners.

Modules:

• Digital Product Modelling and Visualisation (15 Credits): Covers modeling techniques, visualization techniques (VR, AR), and design strategies for digital manufacturing including additive manufacturing.
• Robot Manipulation (15 Credits): Equips students with fundamental concepts of robot manipulators, such as coordinate systems, transformations, kinematics, and motion planning.
Students will put the knowledge into practice by modeling, simulating, programming, and operating robot arms.
• Automation, Control and Digitalisation (30 Credits): Hands-on module providing experience with cutting-edge automation and digitalization technologies.
Covers fundamentals like drives, control techniques, industrial controllers, sensor networks, and communication protocols. Progresses to integrated systems for Industry 4.0 and Smart Factory technologies.
• Digital Enterprise Group Project (15 Credits): Considers organizations as an enterprise and explores digitalization benefits and implementation steps using case studies.
• Digital Twins and Manufacturing Execution System (15 Credits): Introduces the concept of Digital Twins and their impact on automation and manufacturing, utilizing case studies to highlight opportunities and challenges.
Provides a general understanding of the Manufacturing Execution System (MES) and its functionality using the Festo Cyber-Physical Factory.
• Product Lifecycle Management and Industry 4.0 (15 Credits): Introduces Product Lifecycle Management and demonstrates its implementation in product-based organizations for added value.
Covers Industry 4.0 technologies and their relation to the organization's PLM environment.
• Individual Project (60 Credits): Consolidates knowledge and skills, providing the opportunity to develop and demonstrate mastery in project work.
Requires students to use systematic and efficient research and development processes and employ formal project management techniques. Aims to develop advanced skills in research methods, project planning, problem solving, written and oral communication.

Assessment:

• Assessment primarily based on practical work and projects, mimicking industry practices.
• No traditional written examinations.
• Assessment may include elements like technical report writing, multimedia content creation (blogs, video recordings), and possibly online content repository development.

Teaching:

• Practice-led teaching and learning approach designed to replicate current industry practices.
• Content delivered in labs and workshops supplemented by weekly guest lectures from industry speakers.
• Labs and workshops organized in blocks of 3-hour sessions, providing ample opportunity for practical skills development.

Careers:

• Graduates are expected to enter employment demanding high-level skills in automation systems incorporating digital technologies and advanced practical skills for automated production solutions.
• Program content enriched by active industrial partner engagement and sponsored projects, supporting students with current opportunities and future trends in relevant employment sectors.
• Typical employment sectors:
• Automotive
• Food and beverage production
• Advanced manufacturing
• Robotics and automation
• Nano technology
• Systems integration
• Aerospace
• Bio-engineering and healthcare
• Pharmaceuticals
• Renewable energy

Other:

• The program curriculum emphasizes practical skills development to ensure graduates are equipped with the expertise sought after by organizations looking to implement automation and digital manufacturing technologies.
• The program benefits from its close connections to industry, ensuring graduates are prepared for real-world challenges and opportunities in the evolving manufacturing landscape.

UK students1 Full-time students: £11,000 Part-time students: £73 per credit Part-time students: £37 per dissertation International students2 Full-time students: £17,300 Part-time students: £117 per credit Part-time students: £59 per dissertation credit