ENME489Q: Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering; Managing for Innovation and Quality

Credits: 3

Semesters Offered

Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2024, Spring 2025
Testudo

Learning Objectives

In this course the student will develop and/or refine the following areas of knowledge:

  • Understand the engineering accomplishments of the 20th century and examine the engineering opportunities and challenges of the 21st century

  • Learn the role of an engineer in a publicly/privately held organizations and how a technical employee could help accomplish organizational and team goals 

  • As a technical employee, learn how to make robust decisions by trading off technical and non-technical requirements against various alternatives;  use cases on decision analysis in product development, in selecting suppliers, and in value based decisions

  • Use Business Case Analysis (BCA) to develop a project proposal in response to a customer need

  • Innovation plays an important role in American businesses.  Learn the art of innovation by developing hands-on skill on Innovative techniques such as Lead User Research and the Innovation Code.

Topics Covered

Design Framework

  • Design from organization and team perspective
  • Design and continuous development

Decision and Risk Framework

  • Cynefin Framework
  • Ladder of Inference
  • Value based decision
  • Risk management

Innovation Framework

  • Innovation and entrepreneurship
  • Process of innovation

Learning Outcomes

  • an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
  • an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
  • an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
  • an ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams
  • an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
  • an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
  • an ability to communicate effectively
  • the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context
  • a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning
  • a knowledge of contemporary issues
  • an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice

Additional Course Information

Students will explore 'trending' sites to discuss the impact of innovation on quality, e.g. https://www.producthunt.com/, https://www.trendhunter.com/ and https://techlinkcenter.org/

Students will practice facilitation of approaches to inspire creative thinking, seek diverse inputs, and root-cause analysis see e.g, https://www.liberatingstructures.com/ls/

No textbook required. Handouts will be on the Web or distributed in class

Class/Laboratory Schedule 

  • Two 75 min lecture sessions per week
Last Updated By 
Dr. Senthil Arul, September 2017