This is a capstone module in that it draws on the learning of all modules to date, on the emergng learning from concurrent modules, and on the student's ability to search for, gain and utilise new knowledge. It has a place in the programme that no module can achieve, in that it relies on and stretches the personal capability of the student to work in their own time, on a poject of their own making, and exercising their own initiative and judgement (with occasional supervisor support). In many case, students realise at the end that have achieved an outcome beyond that which they could have foreseen. The project topic is expected to be located in a real industrial situation, and this is to expose students to the messiness of real problems, and draw the student through a process of identification of a workable perspective on some process, and developing an opportunity to exercise production management knowledge to improving the situation in a scientific manner. The emphasis is on devel

Develop problem context, research question and project objectives (the student is expected to identify and state a problem in a real industrial situation, involving a process of diagnosis, stating a research question, and setting project objectives towards the answering the question.) Develop a thorough literature review (the student is required to execute a thorough literature review on a chosen problem area related to the problem theme of the chosen project for the interim report and presentation. the student must demonstrate breadth and depth in the analysis, with critical discussion relating the literature ideas to the problem in mind). Carry out some work (the student should demonstrate that some relevant practical work has been done on the problem, such as making some measurements, and developing the analysis and possible odeas for soluton. Practical development such as a design of ecperiment, redesign of a layout and so forth is valid evidence, but it needs to be of substance).

In general: Upon satisfactory completion of the Final-Year Project in this course, the student will have marshalled relevant knowledge from modules studied, and acquired new knowledge and skills relevant to the problem in hand, specifying it, analysing it, proposing and evaluating alternative solutions of substance and relevance.

It is expected that each student will develop their personal capacity for listening for and to problems, questioning the status-quo, seeking and developing new knowledge, and relating to people in the interests of scientific examination of facts, in furth

the student will be required to demonstrate personal presentational skills, including making written reports, and making and defending verbal presentations with projection support (eg MS Powerpoint), and producing a poster to project the methods and resul

The project is constituted as a self-directed, independent learning process. Students are expected to identify a problem situation in an actual industrial setting, and in the course of moulding their own project, to analyse this problem using concepts, approaches and tools appropriate to Production Management which they identify and apply themselves. It is envisaged that projects will be coordinated by a final-year project coordinator who acts as a central point of contact, and that students will be assigned to a designated faculty member as supervisor. The supervisor is expected to act by discussing ideas and making suggestions as to academic direction. It is up to the student to direct the actual work and manage the development of the project. A person in the company should normally be identified as contact person, and is designated for project purposes as preceptor recognising their role in the provision of a research opportunity. It is envisaged that students final-year projects will be assessed at two key points - an interim report and presentation towards the end of semester one, and a final report and poster presentation towards the end of semester two. The interim report should normally focus on a substantial review of literature relevant to a chosen problem area (the initial arena chosen; this may change in time as the year progresses). Implementation is occasionally possible, and should be reported on if possible, but it is not a requirement. Here, a broad view is taken of what constitutes production management: it concerns activity within systems involving people and equipment for the intentional production of a product or service on some economic basis.