Description
This unit introduces students to engineering management principles and practices, and their strategic implementation.
Topics included in this unit are: the main concepts and theories of management and leadership, fundamentals of risk management, operational management, project and operations manageme theories and tools, the key success measures of management strategies, and planning tools.
On successful completion of this unit students will be able to investigate key strategic issues involved in developing and implementing engineering projects and solutions, and explain professional codes of conduct and the relevant legal requirements governing engineering activities.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this unit students will be able to:
1. Examine the application of management techniques, and cultural and leadership aspects to engineering organisations.
Main concepts and theories of management and leadership:
Influence on organisational culture and communication practices
Effect of change within an organisation on its culture and behaviour
Management and leadership theories:
Management and leadership theories
Managerial behaviour and effectiveness
Organisational culture and change
Organisational communication practices
2. Explore the role of risk and quality management in improving performance in engineering organisations.
Fundamentals of quality management:
Introduction to monitoring and controlling
Most appropriate quality improvement methodologies and practices for different
business areas, projects and processes in order to lower risk and improve processes
Risk and quality management:
Risk management processes
Risk mapping and risk matrix
Quality management theories
Continuous improvement practices
Principles, tools and techniques of Total Quality Management (TQM)
3. Investigate the theories and tools of project and operations management when managing activities and optimising resource allocation.
Operation management:
Main areas and stages of projects and operations management
Most important methodologies focusing on eliminating waste and smoothing the process flows without scarifying quality
Project and operations management theories and tools:
Project appraisal and life cycle
Logistics and supply chain management
Operations management
Resources management
Sustainability
Legal requirements governing employment, health, safety and environment
4. Perform activities that improve current management strategies within an identified element of an engineering organisation.
The key success of management strategies:
Following processes from end to end, from suppliers to customers
Identifying areas critical for the success of a project or process
Planning tools:
Gantt charts
Flow charts
Critical analysis and evaluation