LO1 Plan a design solution and prepare an engineering design specification in response to a stakeholder’s design brief and requirements

Assessment Submission Guidelines:  

Please follow the instructions listed on Moodle ensuring you avoid plagiarism and include cited referencing as per your HN referencing guide where appropriate. Assessment procedures are also detailed in HN learner handbook. As your study is on-line and is not classroom based, it is recommended that you submit a formative copy of your work after completing at least ‘part a’ of each activity, which will receive formative feedback advice but will not be graded.  

Using the formative feedback provided, you can then proceed to submit your assessment for summative feedback and grading.  Part b fully develops the learning outcome and can be submitted at formative or summative stage. 

Ensure you submit the assessment to the correct team based on your HNC pathway, i.e. EE learners – [email protected], all other pathways [email protected] . 

Theme: The 2023/24 Pearson-set theme for use with Unit 4 Managing a Professional Engineering Project is: Digitalisation

“Together, digitalisation and sustainability are the two most powerful forces that we are going to see in manufacturing over the next decade”. -The Institution of Engineering (IET) and Technology, 2022  

Digitalisation means "Transforming business processes by leveraging digital technologies, ultimately resulting in opportunities for efficiencies and increased revenue" (One of the online definitions). In contrast, digitisation tends to be used in a narrower scope of converting analogue data to digital data which supports the bigger digitalisation picture.  

A typical digitalisation strategy is built upon underpinning elements such as improved data management, increased network insight and operation and delivering for stakeholders. Perceived benefits include furthering business efficiency, driving enhanced performance, creating new business propositions, saving of costs and time, and improved utilisation of data and its management thereby improving the transparency of the overall process. 

ALL ANSWERS MUST BE YOUR OWN WORK 

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria 

H1 Engineering Design Unit  

LO1 Plan a design solution and prepare an engineering design specification in response to a stakeholder’s design brief and requirements. 

P1 Produce a design specification from a given design brief  

P2 Explain the influence of the stakeholder’s design brief and requirements in the preparation of the design specification  

P3 Produce a design project schedule with a graphical illustration of the planned activities. 

M1 Evaluate potential planning techniques, presenting a case for the method chosen. 

M2 Demonstrate critical path analysis techniques in design project scheduling/planning and explain its use. 

D1 Compare and contrast the completed design specification against the relevant industry standard specification. 

LO2 Formulate possible technical solutions to address the student-prepared design specification. 

P4 Explore industry standard evaluation and analytical tools in formulating possible technical solutions. 

P5 Use appropriate design techniques to produce a possible design solution. 

M3 Apply the principles of modelling/simulation/prototyping, using appropriate software, to develop appropriate design solutions. 

D2 Evaluate potential technical solutions, presenting a case for the final choice of solution. 

H4 Project Management Unit 

LO1 Formulate and plan a project that will provide a solution to an identified engineering problem  

P1 Select an appropriate engineering based project, giving reasons for the selection. 

P2 Create a project plan for the engineering project  

M1 Undertake a feasibility study to justify project selection. 

D1 Illustrate the effect of legislation and ethics in developing the project plan. 

LO2 Conduct planned project activities to generate outcomes which provide a solution to the identified engineering problem. 

P3 Conduct project activities, recording progress against original project plan. 

M2 Explore alternative methods to monitor and meet project milestones, justify selection of chosen method(s). 

D2 Critically evaluate the success of the project plan making recommendations for improvements. 

Option 1 – Renewable Energy Technology. 

A company that you are already familiar with aims to significantly reducing its carbon footprint over the next 15 years. You are required to develop a financially viable, safe and reliable renewable energy technology (RET) for your local site. Therefore, you need to consider a cost-effective renewable technology that can offer low maintenance, reduced energy costs and CO2, and net zero electricity. To do this identify the site and find its annual electricity requirements – ideally on a monthly basis as some RETs are seasonally sensitive. (i.e. annual renewable kwh matches the sites consumption). 

Part 1a) - Design solution, specification, and project plan 

Make sure to label all parts of your answers using the task numbering exactly as shown here below. 

i. Select a design/project based on either option 1 or 2 stating the reasons for your selection including the following stages: 

• Identify 2 solutions for your choice. 

• For option 1 – Find the annual kwh consumption, then identify 2 RETs which could match the electricity kwh and reduce costs and emissions of the site. This may be different RETs e.g. wind, and solar, or different types of the same RETs. E.g. wind generrators DFIG or SG; solar fixed or tracking PVs. 

• For option 2 – Identify 2 different mobile robots designs. e.g. these could be the design choice from 2 different materials and controllers. 

• Analyse the advantages/disadvantages of your 2 solutions and select the best design/project based on a range (min 6) of selection criteria that you have chosen. Use a matrix analysis table with appropriate scoring to summarise your selection and include an explanation for all of your scoring that you have stated for your selection criteria. Clearly define your selection criteria to ensure you judgment is objective e.g. 
  • For option 1 – Average/Rated kw, CO2/kwh, £/kwh, generator type/efficiency maintainability and safety. 

• For option 2 – cost, battery supply/duration, microcontroller, motor type/efficiency, steering, maintainability and safety. 

• For the selected option and to meet the digitalisation theme set by Pearson you need to highlight 2 ways that the project can improve business’s efficiency such as through the manufacturing, operation and maintenance stages of their life cycle. 

(Project - 500 words, with kwh data, RA and matrix table) 

ii. From your selection work above produce a project design specification and other key project requirements that you see as relevant. Include greater mechanical or electrical detail depending on your HNC/D pathway: 

• Mechanical/General: e.g. no. of wheels, size, dimensions, materials, strength, weight, safety, steering etc. 
• Electrical/Electron: e.g. motor/generator- (power, type, speed), controller, sensors, electrical requirements, battery storage, power distribution etc.  (Design – 500 words) 

iii. Explain the influence of the stakeholder’s design brief and their requirements in the preparation of the product design specification. Consider not just the ‘client and the technical specification’ but its impact on efficiency, quality, maintenance and safety. (Design – 500 words)

iv. Using project management (PM) software such as MS Project or Gantt Project https://www.ganttproject.biz/ produce a design project schedule with a graphical illustration of the planned activities e.g. specification, costing, design/project modelling, build, commission etc. At least 12 tasks must be included and a (e.g 3 month) plan is expected along with a detailed explanation of your schedule.  

(Design & Project – 100 words with Gantt chart image) 

Guidance: Establish your aims and objectives for the design/project. Outline objectives and timeframes based on the scenario stated above. Produce an appropriate project management plan that includes relevant actions to meet objectives and timeframes. Also cite reference your work of around 1600 words to support your claims.   

Part 1b)

i. Considering your selected project, and with supporting cited references, complete a feasibility study that provides an explanation of your digitalisation approach as part of your project implementation. (500 words). 

ii. Research and evaluate a range of potential planning techniques including Gantt charts, CPA, and PERT, presenting a case for the method that you have already chosen to use in task 1 Part a)iv) of this task (500 words). 

iii. Demonstrate critical path analysis (CPA) techniques through PM software in the design project scheduling/planning for this task and explain its use (200 words with PM images).

Guidance 1b(i-iii): Adding to work from 1a, the feasibility study should include, a closer investigation of the digitalisation issues related to the project. Include copies of all PM software files used. Also cite reference your work of around 1200 words to support your claims.

iv. Compare and contrast the completed design specification against the relevant industry standard specification. 

v. The council of Engineering has six guiding principles to inform engineers in their decision-making processes which include: 

• Apply professional and responsible judgement and take a leadership role.  
• Do more than just comply with legislation and codes. 
• Seek multiple views to solve sustainability challenges. 
• Manage risk to minimise adverse impact to people or the environment. 

Based on your project selected, including your digitalisation objectives, specification and plan from 1a(i), explain the effect of legislation and ethics on formulating your design/project.            

Guidance: Part 1b(iv) will require an example of a standard specification. Part 1b(v) is about your role as a professional engineer proposing a design/project and how it may impact on society. Consider guidance provided by professional bodies such as the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Council of Engineering. Cite reference your work of around 1200 words to support your reasoning.

Part 2a) - Design modelling and project implementation 

Your company is now keen to implement your plans outlined in task 1 and would like you to develop a model of your project. Including:

i. A detailed project activity plan for the model part of your overall schedule from T1a (i.e. create a detailed sub plan of 4-6 weeks). Use this to monitor your actual progress against the activity plan with a print screen/snip at the end of each week added to your assessment document. Progress comments should include any slippage in the timing and the action done to get back on schedule.  

(Project – 200 words with Gantt chart plan/monitoring images).

ii. With supporting images, explore and explain any of the two of the three industry standard evaluation and analytical tools / modelling software for the following design aspects: 

• Physical – e.g. Fusion 360, Inventor 
• Mathematical e.g. Scilab-Xcos, Matlab-Simulink, 
• Electrical/electronic e.g. Simulide, Multisim, LOGO  

(Design – 500 words with referenced images of software applied to engineering design)

iii. Produce a design/project model which can be through using only one of the following: 

• A basic CAD generated 3D model that shows the overall layout and either key electrical/electronic components (Elect/Electronic pathway) OR mechanical components (Mech/Gen/Operations pathways) using Inventor or Fusion 360 
• Mathematical model of the project’s performance using as Scilab-Xcos or an Excel spreadsheet e.g. Wind/PV power/energy output based on size calculations and site location (windspeed/orientation – see further info on moodle); Robot battery sizing based on power and duration requirements. The model must be flexible to allow ‘what-if’ scenarios (e.g change in size).
• Plan a design solution and prepare an engineering design specification in response to a stakeholder’s design brief and requirements
• Electrical/electronic control/circuit model or program using Simulide, LOGO or Multisim  

(Design & Project – 100-word commentary, 3 software images and all software files) 

Guidance: 2a(i) wants you record all your project work activity and to link this against your project sub plan. At formative stage, you might not have all the project work done, but can submit what is completed so far, to check that you are on the right track.. A copy of all modelling software files should be sent with assessment (for testing) and a print-screen/snip of their images/results included in your assessment document. All files must use software (such as those listed in 2a(ii) that the assessor can open and check operation. 

Part 2b)

i. Using the design software selected in 1a(iii), develop your solution further e.g.,  

• 3D model- include a minimum of 3 additional sub-assemblies, or 
• mathematical or electrical/electronic control/circuit model – an additional element of the design/project, not previously included in your software model.  
• Include a 150-word illustrated commentary on your software application. 

ii. Having completed the implementation, justify the project management planning methods that you have used so far within this project, including Gantt charts and CPA. (350 words)

iii. Based on your work above to date, evaluate all of your potential technical solutions, presenting firmly a justified case for your final choice of technical solution and critically evaluating the success of the project plan making valid recommendations for improvements (500 words). 

Guidance: Clearly cite reference your work (1000 words), include images software being applied, and provide a copy of all appropriate software files for testing.