Module Code - Title:
MF4733
-
MANUFACTURING INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Year Last Offered:
2025/6
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
N
Prerequisite Modules:
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
The development of large-scale complex manufacturing software-based systems proceeds from analysis through design and implementation to system verification and validation. This module covers the analysis and design phases of the software development cycle with particular emphasis on the use of manufacturing performance-oriented approaches to system specification.
Syllabus:
- Software lifecycles: review of the waterfall model, prototyping, spiral, and object-oriented (OO) development models.
- Focus on understanding the Unified Enterprise.
- Characteristics of good software design - modules, cohesion, coupling or dependency, encapsulation, abstraction, etc.
- Requirements investigation.
- Requirements classification: functional and non-functional requirements.
- Entity Relationship Modelling, Requirements Engineering: use case diagrams and use case descriptions.
- Relational Database Design and Development.
- Other methodologies - DSDM, Agile approaches, Extreme Programming.
Integration with, and data capture from, metrology equipment and bar-code readers. Interfacing with, and control of, stepping motors and programmable logic controllers. Use of application program libraries and integration with other software applications. File format conversion between computer aided design, manufacturing systems and other Manufacturing applications, eg. Shop floor data acquisition systems.
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
1. Define/explain/compare/contrast concepts and terms concerning software lifecycles, phases of the Information Systems development project and conceptual models (data, process, object-oriented) as deliverables of the Analysis phase.
2. Use Structured English, Decision Trees and Decision Tables for specification and documentation.
3. Use graphical representation tools including Context- System-, and Child-level DFDs to construct process models to analyse system requirements.
4. Use a relational database tool to enhance & facilitate this process.
5. Summarise the characteristics of a good requirements specification.
6. Evaluate different design alternatives.
7. Summarise the characteristics of good SW design and good UI design.
8. Explain of the critical role of information within a manufacturing organisation.
9. Design, formulate and assemble software components (i.e. functions and procedures) to solve a specified programming problem.
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
N/A
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
N/A
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):
Enterprise Modelling and Performance Optimisation
Prime Texts:
Other Relevant Texts:
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
Semester(s) Module is Offered:
Module Leader:
Con.Sheahan@ul.ie