An Undergraduate Course in Engineering, Manufacture and Management

SUMMARY

This paper describes a 4-year undergraduate course which covers mechanical/manufacturing engineering and management functions. At the start of the course the emphasis is on technology but in later years management/business studies predominate. The factor which is common to both technology and management functions is problem-solving. This is practised within a variety of projects undertaken throughout the 4-years. Most of the projects deal with problems being experienced by local (usually small) companies. They range from product improvement, to new products, to marketing strategy and business plans for future developments. The exercises involve: problem identification and strategy formulation through techniques suck as brainstorming, information gathering and analysis, familiarisation with previously unknown technologies, design of ad hoc tests and analysis of results, report preparation and verbal submission of solutions to the problem owners (the company directors). Because they work close to company executives, students have yardsticks with which to measure their own capabilities. The excitement generated by problem-solving exercises and the confidence gained through working one-to-one with company managers leads the aspirations of many of the undergraduates towards careers with strong management functions. Currently the most popular job area is management consultancy, followed by manufacturing engineering. The path of true entrepreneurship, exemplified by setting up a business, is being taken by an increasing number of students.