Aerospace Manufacturing MSc

Program Overview

Cranfield University's Aerospace Manufacturing MSc program equips students with advanced knowledge and skills in aircraft assembly, manufacturing strategy, and supply chain management. Graduates pursue careers in aerospace manufacturing, including roles in management, operations, and technology-related functions. The program is accredited by IMechE, RAeS, and IET and offers flexible study modes, including part-time options.

Program Outline

Outline:

Modules:

• Aircraft Assembly: Aims to develop understanding of aircraft assembly methods and techniques, covering joining techniques, assembly jigs and fixtures, aircraft assembly layouts and processes, automated fastening machines, sealants and adhesives, automation in aircraft assembly, application of metrology, quality processes, certification and validation, and technology introduction.
• Manufacturing Strategy: Develops skills to analyze and manage business direction, design, and develop manufacturing strategies for competitive advantage, and plan strategy deployment effectively, covering competitive manufacturing strategy concepts, benchmarking of manufacturing system performance, manufacturing strategy in business success, strategy formation and formulation, structured strategy formulation and system design methodologies, approaches to strategy formulation in differing business contexts, and realization of new strategies/system designs.
• Manufacturing Systems Engineering: Develops understanding of complex manufacturing systems engineering through application of different modelling and simulation tools, techniques, and methodologies to analyze and (re)design systems, maximizing value to customers while minimizing waste.
• Operations Management: Introduces core factors of managing operations, covering capacity, demand and load, standard times and process improvement, quality standards and frameworks, scheduling rules and set-ups, inventory roles, information systems, and Just-in-Time systems.
• Supply Chain Management: Introduces wider issues surrounding the management and optimization of supply chains, covering supply chain concepts, strategy, relationship management, supplier selection and evaluation, sustainability, planning, design and operation of supply chains.

Elective modules (choose one):

• Additive and Subtractive Manufacturing Technologies: Provides understanding of recent developments in the processing of high value-added components, covering metal cutting and abrasive machining processes, non-conventional machining including photochemical machining and associated metal removal and addition processes, micro machining and micro moulding, machine tool components, machine-materials interactions, and metrology.
• Advanced Welding Processes: Provides understanding of recent advancements in welding processes, focusing on laser welding, advanced arc, friction, and resistance welding.
Covers principles, operating characteristics, and practical applications of each process.
• Composites Manufacturing for High Performance Structures: Provides 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.
• Failure of Materials and Structures: Provides understanding of why materials and structures fail and how failure conditions can be predicted in metallic and non-metallic components and structures.

Teaching:

Teaching Methods:

• Lectures
• Workshops
• Case Studies
• Tutorials
• Company Visits

Faculty:

• Experts from Cranfield and industry with substantial experience in teaching, project supervision, research, and consultancy.
• Course Director: Dr. Konstantinos Georgarakis (Senior Lecturer in Low Energy and Novel Casting)
• Dr. David Ayre (Senior Lecturer in Composites and Polymers)
• Dr. Isidro Durazo Cardenas (Lecturer in Through Life Engineering Services)
• Dr. Wojciech Suder (Senior Lecturer in Laser Processing and Additive Manufacturing)
• Professor Phil Webb (Royal Ac of Eng Airbus Chair AeroSDes)

Careers:

• Graduates pursue a wide range of roles in aerospace manufacturing such as management, operations, logistics, and technology-related functions within global aerospace manufacturing organisations.
• Companies that employ graduates include Accenture, Air France, Airbus, Collins Aerospace, Electrolux, Deloitte Consulting, Turkish Aerospace, and Rolls-Royce.
• Students have gone into roles such as Aeronautical Engineer, Aerospace Manufacturing Engineer, Composite Manufacturing Engineer, Mechanical and Automation Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Production Leader, and Zero Emission Prototype Manufacturing.

Other:

• Accreditation: The Aerospace Manufacturing MSc is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS), and the Institution of Engineering & Technology (IET) on behalf of the Engineering Council.
• Study Modes: Full-time and Part-time options available.
• Part-time Route: Designed for those seeking to balance work with study, offering manageable blocks of on-campus teaching.
• Cranfield's Career Service: Offers career coaching, CV development, interview practice, access to hundreds of available jobs, and opportunities to meet recruiting employers.
• Alumni Resources: Graduates receive access to a range of career resources to support their ongoing professional development.

Conclusion:

Please note that the provided information does not cover all sections requested. "Degree Overview" and "Assessment" sections could not be extracted from the provided text.