Module: Product Design

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Product Design
Module Code	MEC1017 (ITS: MM310)
Faculty	Mechanical & Manufacturing Eng	School	Engineering & Computing
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	10

Description

In this module students will draw on their knowledge gained in semesters 1 to 4 in Mechanical and electronic design, software engineering and other supporting modules to design a simple engineering product/device as a group activity. The design specified in the portfolio from semester 1 is then built and tested in semester 2. There is some facility for redesign based on risk analysis and prototype testing in semester two prior to full implementation of the design.

Learning Outcomes

1. Produce a Product Design Specification for an engineering design problem.
2. Break a problem down into its component parts prior to conceptualising possible solutions.
3. Choose an optimum solution from their own concepts using appropriate analysis techniques.
4. Integrate the various components of their design into an overall final design including full component drawings and material specifications.
5. Perform a risk analysis, verification and validation of their final design.
6. Work in an efficient manner as a team.
7. Project Management
8. Conduct prototype testing.
9. Realise a fuctional protoype from fully specied design drawings.
10. Adapt and optimise a design based on results from experiments.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	12	Semester 1
Seminars	3	Student presentation
Independent Study	110	Team meetings, design work and portfolio production, semester 1.
Laboratory	72	Design realisation
Independent Study	53	Semester 2
Total Workload: 250

Section Breakdown
CRN	10217	Part of Term	Semester 1 & 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC2	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Conor Boland	Module Teacher	James Carton

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Oral Examination	n/a	10%	Week 7
Portfolio	n/a	40%	Week 12
Laboratory Portfolio	Design realisation and report	50%	Sem 2 End

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Lecture Material

Coordination of project specific student activities

Formal teaching of Product Design elements including

Design Report composition

Design process and methodology

Project Management [Objectives tree model, Gantt charts, product design requirements matrix]

Failure modes, effects and critical analysis

ISO 9000 Quality system

Design verification and validation

Fluid analysis requirements for given design problem

Damping and suspension designProject Structure

Identification of project goals

Documentation of project aims and objectives

Identification and allocation of project areas to each group member

Presentation of scope of project and individual responsibilities (oral)

Product Design Specification. Design Concept formulation

Detailed Design Production
material specification, specification of manufacturing processes, spec. of pneumatic devices and fluid flow requirements, detailed design calculations, working drawings, Bill of materials.

Design report composition and submission

Indicative Reading List

Books:
None

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None