DPM: Design Project Management
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Syllabus

Table of Contents

Course Number and Title

M.E. 0304-730 I.S.E 0303-735

Design Project Management

Total Credits = 4

Prerequisites

Fifth year standing in an engineering discipline and permission of instructor. Graduate and dual degree students taking this course are expected to complete this course immediately prior to MSD I and MSD II, to meet their graduate capstone requirement. ME students are expected to complete Cornerstone Design and the majority of their co-op requirements prior to enrolling in this course. ISE students are expected to complete the majority of their co-op requirements, and Engineering Management prior to enrolling in this course.

Course Description

Course Description (06-07 Bulletin): This course focuses on preparing students to take on a leadership role in design project teams. Topics include product development processes, management of design project teams, developing a business case for design projects, understanding customer needs and translating them into engineering specifications, tools for developing design concepts, tools for assessing the feasibility of design concepts, conducting engineering tradeoffs and analysis to synthesize a preliminary design. Students use the concepts and tools discussed throughout the course in a team-based environment to develop project readiness packages for subsequent use by senior design teams. Class 4, Credit 4.

Required Text

Product Design and Development by Karl T. Ulrich and Steven D. Eppinger, 3rd edition or 4th edition are both acceptable., McGraw-Hill / Irwin Publishers, ISBN 0 07 247146 8

RIT Mechanical Engineering Program Outcomes

MEPO 1. Engage in the mechanical engineering profession.

MEPO 2. Design a system or a component to meet a set of customer specifications and constraints, as well as to define and write the requirements of the design.

MEPO 3. Identify, formulate, and solve mechanical engineering problems.

MEPO 4. Use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice; and be able to apply mathematics, science, and engineering principles to mechanical engineering.

MEPO 5. Understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context, the professional and ethical responsibilities associated with the practice of engineering, and contemporary issues facing mechanical engineers.

MEPO 6. Design and conduct experiments, as well as analyze and interpret data.

MEPO 7. Participate in multi-disciplinary teams.

MEPO 8. Communicate effectively by written, verbal, and graphical means.

MEPO 9. Engage in life-long learning and recognize its importance.

Course Learning Objectives

A student who successfully fulfills the course requirements will have demonstrated the following:

Level 1: Knowledge

DPM 1.1 Learn about various Engineering Design Methods and Processes.

DPM 1.2 Learn about various tools used in engineering design processes.

DPM 1.3 Have a basic understanding of the concepts and tools of engineering design project management.

Level 3: Application

DPM 3.1 Use formal methods of Needs Assessment to translate customer needs into engineering specifications.

DPM 3.2 Use formal methods of Concept Development to propose alternative design solutions in response to a posed need.

DPM 3.3 Use a weighted feasibility assessment method to compare and contrast proposed concepts.

Level 4: Analysis

DPM 4.1 Conduct a tradeoff analysis on the emobidment designs to recommend solutions for further development.

DPM 4.2 Conduct engineering analyses to support design decisions for the selected design(s).

Level 5: Synthesis

DPM 5.1 Use an engineering design process to develop project readiness packages for one or more subsequent senior design teams.

Mapping Course Learning Objectives to Program Outcomes

Each learning objective of the course should support one or more program outcomes for the overall program of study within the department. The table below illustrates how each course learning objectives contributes to each program outcome either 1=slightly, 2=moderately, or 3=significantly.

Outcomes Mapping
Mapping MEPO 1 MEPO 2 MEPO 3 MEPO 4 MEPO 5 MEPO 6 MEPO 7 MEPO 8 MEPO 9
DPM 1.1 3
DPM 1.2 3
DPM 1.3 3
DPM 3.1 3 1 2
DPM 3.2 3 1 2
DPM 3.3 3 1 2
DPM 4.1 3 1 2
DPM 4.2 3 1 2
DPM 5.1 3 1 2

Topics Covered:

  1. Product development processes
    1. Phases of the product life cycle
    2. Sequential Design Processes (e.g. Stage Gate)
    3. Concurrent Design Processes
    4. Set Based Concurrent Engineering
  2. Management of design project teams
    1. Defining project objectives, goals, and tasks
    2. Management vs. Leadership
    3. Defining a staffing plan, and understanding the contributions of various disciplines
    4. Using work breakdown structures
    5. Running effective meetings
    6. Performance Appraisals and Dealing with Conflict
  3. Understanding customer needs and translating them into engineering specifications
    1. Understanding the Voice of the Customer
      1. Affinity Diagram to capture raw data from stakeholders
      2. Objective Tree to organize needs of stakeholders
      3. Project Mission Statement
      4. Market Assessment, Interviews, and Focus Groups
    2. Defining the Voice of the Engineer
      1. Function Tree
      2. Performance Specifications
      3. Design Specifications
      4. Engineering Codes and Standards
    3. Relating the VOC to the VOE through Quality Function Deployment

Class/Lab Schedule

The class meets for three two-hour lecture/studio sessions each week. Significant class time is provided for students to collaborate with one another and to meet with faculty members and guides during the quarter.

Contribution of Course to Meeting Professional Component

College Level Mathematics and Basic Sciences = 0 credits

Engineering Topics = 4 credits (1 engineering science, 3 design)

General Education = 0 credits

Prepared By: Edward Hensel Date: September 3, 2007 Revised: August 27, 2009

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