MEC4404 - Professional practice - 2017

This unit provides students with an understanding of the work environment of professional engineers addressing topics not covered in other parts of the degree program. It allows students to more effectively use their engineering skills within the context of a business environment, and assists them to add value to the community. Students will be encouraged to evaluate problems from a multi-faceted perspective and to articulate their views in writing as well as in discussion. The unit provides a balance between global macro issues likely to influence their future work environment, and more current, micro issues likely to confront graduates in establishing themselves as professional engineers.

1. Role and contribution of an engineer in society
2. Ethical responsibilities of engineers
3. Modern work practices and organising for high performance
4. Sources of wastes and process inefficiencies, the lean manufacturing methodology, customer focused pull design and manufacturing strategies
5. Factors affecting the performance of the Australian manufacturing sector including energy, water, environmental issues, sustainability, work skills Individual performance assessment
6. Transition from university Safety and OHS, risk assessment
7. Project management
8. Designing for innovation, and creative approaches towards problem solving
9. The role of standards and accreditation in work practices
10. Intellectual property, and in particular patents and copyright
11. Responsibilities of engineers in the design and manufacture of consumer products
12. Contract law
13. Product costs, in particular the effect of direct costs and the allocation of overheads on performance
14. Capital budgeting
15. Complete tasks as part of a team
16. Improve oral and written communication skills
17. The significance of non-engineering factors in the context of their role as an engineer
18. To be more aware of their role as an engineer in society
19. To value the practice of self-directed learning and lifelong learning
20. To appreciate that problem solving will often involve the use of incomplete data and data of varying reliability, a choice of method, and the possibility of more than one outcome depending on the weighting given to different factors.

In-Semester: 50%

Examination (3 hours): 50%.

Students are required to achieve at least 45% in the total continuous assessment component (assignments, tests, mid-semester exams, laboratory reports) and at least 45% in the final examination component and an overall mark of 50% to achieve a pass grade in the unit. Students failing to achieve this requirement will be given a maximum of 45% in the unit.

6 hours of contact time (usually 3 hours lectures and 3 hours practice sessions or laboratories) and 6 hours of private study per week

See also Unit timetable information

Professor Chris Davies

96 credit points