grtuty SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, ACADEMIC GROUP February, 2017 MODULE: Engineering Environment (AME4051) LEVEL: HE4 Assignment 1 Title: Engineering Market Analysis Aims: To develop a student’s appreciation of the market worldwide in an Engineering / technical product, e.g. small car, propeller driven aircraft, etc. To develop group working and presentation skills. To be able to research market sector information accurately, understand company information, and to generate interesting sector information. Hand out Date: 16th February, 2017 Due Date: 8thMay, 2017   Learning Objectives: This module introduces you to the Engineering profession, the operational and societal context and the role of the Engineer. The module aims are to enable you to: 1. Understand the origins, context, and societal relationship with engineering. 2. Chart the emergence of key engineering principles and factors affecting their development. 3. Appreciate the relationship and dynamics of business and engineering. 4. Understand the influences on, wider expectations demanded of, and emerging issues affecting a professional engineer. 5. Gain knowledge and understanding of the functions and activities undertaken by professional engineers. 6. Accept and demonstrate personal commitment to the concept of continuing professional development (CPD) and self-directed study that enhances the personal and professional status of an engineer. 7. Plan for, and begin to engage with, a successful engineering career. Learning Outcomes for this assignment: Plan for, and begin to engage with, a successful engineering career and develop knowledge and understanding of management and business practices, and their limitations. (S2m) Learn how to respect the functions and context of engineering and understand of the requirement for engineering activities to promote sustainable development (S3) Assignment Brief and Assessment Strategy: The company that you work for is looking to engage in a new product development to challenge the existing market players. You have to produce a reportand presentation for the senior management of your company that looks at the factors outlined below. The senior management will be somewhat guided by your findings, so it is very important that your research is thorough and well evidenced. Your job depends on it! To aid you in this task you will need to do the following: 1. Choose a group of 3 or 4 people for your group, and choose a topic for your research. YOUR TOPIC NEEDS TO BE APPROVED BY THE MODULE TUTOR. – Deadline 24/2/2017. 2. Analyse the overall market for your chosen product, including the annual sales figures worldwide, sales figure trends over the last 5 years, and the market share of the main manufacturers over the same timescale. (25% of marks) 3. Looking at the top 4 manufacturers in terms of market share, EACH individual in the group to choose ONE of those manufacturers for further research. EACH individual to research details of their chosen manufacturer, such as the location of major manufacturing sites, location of Headquarters and Technical centres, and the sales numbers of their main products. (Product details to be researched also). (50% of marks) 4. Produce a visual presentation of approximately 15 minutes, describing what you have found in the above research. EACH individual should talk about the company they have researched in section 3, so that all of the group contribute to the presentation. (10% of marks to Group, 10% individual ) 5. Complete the assignment in clear concise writing that is spelt correctly and is grammatically correct. (5% of marks) Weighting of Assignment: This assignmentis worth 50% of your total for the module. How to submit your assignment material: Your assignment should be submitted to the AME4051, Assignment 1, Turnitin portal on Moodle 2. Formatting: The report should be word-processed, and written in the report format as identified through BISSTO/LEAP contained on the University website. A report writing summary is attached for your reference. Students may accessBISTTO/LEAP through the student section on the front page of the university web site or by using: http://www.bolton.ac.uk/Students/home.aspx; then in thestudy resourcessection click on BISTTO/LEAP. General Considerations: The assignment involves some research, understanding and evaluating the research and producing a coherent report. Much of this information is available on the internet, however students’ should AVOID the temptation of “cutting and pasting” directly from the internet, and then placing it in their report WITHOUT having the courtesy of acknowledging that the information in the appropriate manner using the Harvard or similar methods. The Harvard Referencing system is explained through the research link contained in BISSTO/LEAP and explained in the publication Cite Me I’m Yours (Harvard style).Ensure that you consult a wide range of sources on the subjects covered so that you will gain more knowledge of the topics. (Excerpt from lecture notes) Strategies for product development There are three basic ways of approaching design and development: • driven by marketing • driven by technology • coordinated approach. A system driven by marketing is one that puts the customer needs first, and only produces goods which are known to sell. Market research is carried out which establishes what is needed. If the development is technology driven then it is a matter of selling what it is possible to make. The product range is developed so that production processes are as efficient as possible and the products are technically superior, hence possessing a natural advantage in the market place. Marketing’s job is therefore to create the market and sell the product. Both approaches have their merits, but each of them omit important aspects, hence the idea that a coordinated approach would be better. With this approach the needs of the market are considered at the same time as the needs of the production operation and of design and development. In many businesses this inter-functional system works best, since the functions of R&D, production, marketing, purchasing, quality control and material control are all taken into account. However, its success depends on how well the interface between these functions is managed and integrated. Sometimes committees are used, as are matrix structures or task forces (the latter being set up especially to see in new product developments). In some parts of the motor industry a function called programme timing coordinates the activities of the major functions by agreeing and setting target dates and events using network planning techniques. Notes for PowerPoint Presentations There are many tips and tricks available, but these will make sure that you have the basics right. 1. Keep it simple – Not too much text on each slide. 2. Make sure that the audience can read your slides from the back of the room. 3. Limit the number of colours used – about 3 is okay. 4. Use graphs and charts, but keep them simple. Senior management like things in simple terms. 5. Try the presentation out with colleagues before the final presentation.