Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Maximising the financial return of an existing factory is a key role for Process Engineers. Quality control, process debottlenecking and improving capital availability whilst minimising operating costs are key aspects. Conversely, the Process Engineer also requires skills to be able to deal with an unpredictable environment that can cause financial loss; common problems include equipment failure, changing raw material inputs and legislative requirements. Leadership and negotiation skills are required.

An understanding of process economics is required to allow the Process Engineer to make decisions with high financial consequence. The Process Engineer must compare alternative options for maximising revenue and minimising losses. Discounted Cash Flow analysis incorporates capital and/or operating cost estimation. Discounted Cash Flow analysis gives a financial basis for decision making. These decisions are affected by tax regimes and the introduction of the Minerals Resource Rent Tax and the Carbon Tax are particularly relevant to the process industries.

Aims

To enable effective operations management and demonstrate how process economics decisions should be made.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you will be able to demonstrate that you can:

1. Describe quality management principles and quality systems.


2. Identify the critical path in scheduling problems in an unpredictable environment


3. Conduct Fault Analysis


4. Understand the implications of decision making and events which affect factory profitability


5. Calculate capital, operating costs and understand tax implications


6. Perform a Discounted Cash Flow analysis including depreciation and tax


7. Make decisions between two alternative courses of action based on process economics


8. Effectively communicate, negotiate and lead change.

Content

1. Operations management:
   
   
   
   1. Quality management principles and quality systems
   
   
   2. LEAN Manufacturing, Six Sigma
   
   
   3. Factory scheduling and critical path analysis
   
   
   4. Nature of stoppages and prevention strategies
   
   
   5. Process debottlenecking
   
   
   6. Fault analysis
   
   
   7. Introduction to Microsoft Project
   
   
   8. Communication, negotiation and change leadership
   
   
   
   



2. Process economics:
   
   
   
   1. Financial terminology
   
   
   2. Capital and operating cost estimation
   
   
   3. Introduction to current taxation/royalty regimes including MRRT and carbon tax implications
   
   
   4. Perform complex Discounted cash flow analyses
   
   
   
   



3. Decision making based on operations management and process economics considerations.
   

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Mode of Teaching
Total hours per week: 4
Lectures: 3 hour block in collaborative learning spaces, Science & Engineering Centre
Tutorials: 1 hour self-directed learning time in collaborative learning spaces, with tutor/s
Laboratory: n/a

Assessment

The assessment in this unit comprises both formative and summative elements. Formative assessment will take the form of provision of model answers for summative tasks, practice problems with worked solutions and interactive discussions with demonstrators. Summative assessment is a combination of written poster and data visualisation and supervised written theory examination.Summative feedback
Assessment will be based on practical performance and theory performance.

Formative feedback
You are given weekly integrated theory problems in the tutorials which will allow self assessment of performance and formative assessment by tutorial staff. Practical performance will be self-assessed against performance timelines and benchmarks for practical work, and further formative assessment by practical demonstrators. The mid-semester quiz gives you unequivocal feedback on your understanding of the critical early modules of the unit, before moving on to more advanced material.

Assessment name: Data Visualisation Task
Description: PowerPoint slides to be submitted, outlining a business case using data visualisations created from class activities.
Relates to objectives: 4, 5 and 8
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid semester

Assessment name: Poster Presentation
Description: Oral presentation outlining a business case (incorporating data visualisations and Six Sigma principles in poster format).
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Mid to late semester

Assessment name: Examination
Description: To be advised
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

To be announced

Risk assessment statement

You will undertake lectures and tutorials in the traditional classrooms and lecture theatres. As such, there are no extraordinary workplace health and safety issues associated with these components of the unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 26-Oct-2012