WMG Warwick Manufacturing Group

What you'll study

• Sustainable Automotive Research: The content will focus on the motivations for pursuing a policy of creating automobiles in a sustainable manner, mainly stemming from the 2015 Paris Agreement. The module will also introduce the "target zero" emissions policy in terms of zero CO2 tailpipe emissions and zero CO2 materials and component production. The module then introduces the overarching legislative and regulatory frameworks alongside organisational and strategic approaches of manufacturers in response to the problem.
  
  
• Systems Engineering: The module seeks to provide students with an understanding of the implication of automotive system design and engineering on the environmental and social impact of products, as well as impart an awareness of the tools and processes to design optimised architectures and solutions. Students will gain experience with practical application of systems engineering methodology, including evaluation of customer needs and translation into technical requirements. The module will address the application of sustainable material principles in the design of complex automotive applications.
  
  
• Circular (eco)design and Life Cycle Engineering: A broad overview of the challenges arising from pursuing sustainable production in the automotive industry. Students will gain insight into topics such as decarbonisation pathways, material circularity, the environmental impact of materials processing and reuse/remanufacturing. A range of tools will be introduced to tackle these environmental challenges, such as Life Cycle Engineering tools (material selection, manufacturing selection, end-of-life) and Life Cycle Analysis.
  
  
• Material Properties and Selection Criteria: This module will give students the tools required for scientific material selection. The module provides comprehensive knowledge of metallic and polymeric materials used in automotive manufacturing. The environmental and cost implications of selecting certain materials will be considered, including areas of end-of-life, manufacturing processes and use/repair.
  
  
• Metals Processing: A sound grounding in traditional, and state-of-the-art, metal processing techniques. Students will gain an advanced understanding of how the suitability of a metal is related to its properties, processability and cost. Students will also gain an understanding of the environmental impact of metal processing, as well as practical experience of metal forming simulation techniques.
  
  
• Polymers and Composites Processing: This module will equip students with comprehensive knowledge of different polymer classes, including properties, processing techniques and finishing operations. Students will gain an understanding of the environmental considerations of utilising polymers, as well as the CAE techniques to predict component behaviour.
  
  
• Automotive Joining: Students will gain an advanced understanding of the three major types of joining (fusion, mechanical and adhesive) and the technical considerations required for successful application of each. Emphasis is also placed on the environmental impacts and considerations for automotive joining, particularly recycling issues. Technical considerations such as structural vs aesthetic joints, multi-material joining and comparison of mechanical properties of joining types.

Teaching and learning

The course is taught face-to-face. There are guest lecturers from the industry as well as laboratory demonstrations of material processing and testing. Learning is reinforced through group exercises. Some modules do require some pre-work. Please contact us for details.

All modules, except Systems Engineering. are assessed as 80% post-module assessment (essay-style question) and 20% in-module assessment (group work with presentation).

Systems Engineering is assessed as 70% post-module assessment (essay-style question), 10% Self-guided learning assessment and 20% in-module assessment (group work with presentation).

Entry requirements

This course is aimed at engineers working in the automotive sector and designed for those in employment as you will need to apply your studies directly to the work environment throughout the programme. We recommend you have at least three years of appropriate professional experience and that you possess the equivalent of a UK second-class honours degree.

The course is also open to talented people without a first degree, who have relevant work experience, have taken a less-traditional route in their career and who will have shown great potential in the business. Please contact us to discuss.

How to apply

To enrol on the programme, you must have the support of your employer as we only offer this as a closed programme. If you are already in work, please talk to your employer about potential opportunities to partner with us.

Employers

If you are interested in this programme, please email us and we will get back to you to discuss your requirements.