Smart Manufacturing Systems
About
The 2017 ‘Made Smarter’ review listed 5 core technologies that were essential to realise the development of manufacturing and productivity to the levels required in the next 50 years. Artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, automation, internet of things (IoT) and industrial digital technologies (IDTs) have reached such significant levels of maturity that their disruptive effects will provide unprecedented challenges and opportunities for industry and commerce.
The majority of industrial and commercial organisations in N. Ireland are seemingly under-prepared for the challenges presented by these advances in technology and will need support to develop the capability and capacity to survive, compete internationally with innovative products while extracting greatly increased efficiencies from their processes (NI Skills Barometer Findings Report “Skills in Demand”).
Ulster University’s Postgraduate Certificate in Smart Manufacturing Systems will provide postgraduate education and upskill engineers currently working in manufacturing where advanced automation is a key aspect in maintaining global competitiveness. This will also upskill engineers working in other sectors looking to seek employment in growing areas related to advanced and smart manufacturing the needs of manufacturing in Industry 4.0.This PG qualification strongly aligns with the skills development activity within the DCSC City Deal “Centre for Industrial Digitalisation, Robotics and Automation (CIDRA)”.
The current push towards adoption of Industry 4.0 principles dictates that the engineer of the future will have to be familiar with, and capable of, using advanced technology to support continuous improvement in manufacturing processes. Within the Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial Robotics module this will be tackled with the “Octopuz” software.
Identifying areas where smart automation can be utilised to identify possible improvements in productivity can often be difficult. As part of the Smart Factories module the students will instructed on how to do just that. These factors, together with analysis of a process will help form a business case and rational for making suitable changes to industrial manufacturing systems. This leads the students then to the Global Business in Context module which introduces students to the key concepts, theories in global business, and the contemporary global business environment
The modules within this programme are designed to produce a learner who is able to examine a manufacturing process and demonstrate the need for the application of advanced manufacturing processes.
Start Date
September 24
Campus
Derry~Londonderry
Delivery
This programme will be taught in three 20-credit modules. This course will be offered as a Full-Time (F/T) and a Part-Time (P/T) which will be campus based (Derry~Londonderry) with blended learning.
Term Dates
- In full-time, students will complete the three 20-credit modules between September 24 – May 25.
- In part-time, students will complete the three 20-credit modules between September 24 – December 25
Progression
Students who complete this Postgraduate Certificate can then go on to study for the full MSc Smart Manufacturing Systems.
Further Information
Modules
Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial Robotics (20 credit points)
This module develops knowledge and understanding in new and non-traditional manufacturing processes. Current push towards adoption of Industry 4.0 principles dictates that the engineer of the future will have to be familiar with, and capable of, using advanced technology to support continuous improvement in manufacturing processes. This module will help develop those skills.
The Global Business in context (20 credit points)
Businesses operate in a globalised and highly connected multi-layered business environment, where the global and the local impacts are increasingly intertwined. Such an environment presents many challenges, typified by the volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA) arising from global business.
As the leaders/managers and decision makers of the future, Global Business in Context will help students understand current trends in Global Business, prepare for work in multi-layered global environments, and to understand the need to be flexible and adaptable to change, both in the domestic, regional and global contexts.
Data Science Foundations (20 credit points)
This module introduces students to the fundamentals of data science, including terminology and concepts, core models and algorithms, technologies, and application scenarios. It considers the key technologies used in data collection, curation, processing, integration, analysis, and visualisation, applied to a variety of data types.
Students will be introduced to data scientist toolkit that can be applied to build data-driven applications. Additionally, students will be introduced to concepts including sustainability, ethics, cloud computing, and high performance computing.
Material covered will be contextualised by providing examples of the latest research within the area. Through completion of the module, students will demonstrate qualities including subject-specific knowledge and skills and the ability to use flexible and creative approaches to problem solving and communication.
60 credits successful completion = Postgraduate Certificate in Smart Manufacturing System.
Eligibility Criteria
Entry Requirements
- Applicants must:
- (a) have gained
- (i) an Honours or non-Honours degree from a University of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, or from a recognised national awarding body, or from an institution of another country which is recognised as being of an equivalent standard; or
- (ii) an equivalent standard (normally 50%) in a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma or an approved alternative qualification; and
- the qualification must be in the subject areas of Mechanical Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline; and
- (b) provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English (GCSE grade C or equivalent);
Eligibility
Places are limited and open to applicants who:
- are over 18 years of age;
- are eligible to work in Northern Ireland;
- are ‘settled’ in Northern Ireland, and has been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least three years; or
- are a person who has indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK.
- meet the course specific entry requirements. See course pages for requirements.
- meet the Ulster University general entry requirements