MFE206TC – Individual Assignment
Objective:
The objective of this assignment is to engage students in a hands-on research project that integrates theoretical knowledge with practical applications in the field of intelligent manufacturing. Students will identify a relevant industrial challenge, conduct a structured literature review, develop a research methodology, and present preliminary results. This assignment aims to enhance students’ analytical, research, and technical communication skills while deepening their understanding of advanced research techniques applied to intelligent manufacturing systems.
Details:
In the lectures, you have learned the importance of intelligent manufacturing and the role of the industrial internet in the transition towards “Industry 4.0”, you have also learned the fundamental components of an intelligent manufacturing ecosystem, such as intelligent equipment, automation, computer vision, machine learning applications, industrial management systems such as ERP/PDM/MES, CPS and digital twin. These technologies are key tools now used in our leading industries to assist in the development of mass customisation that will help businesses face the challenges of increasing need to have personalised product and in ways that minimise the competition.
You are required to develop a high-impact research report intended for the technical director of an industrial company. This report should reflect your understanding of intelligent manufacturing research techniques and their practical applications. Whether you are currently working in a company or envisioning yourself as a future professional in an advanced manufacturing firm, this project allows you to simulate a real-world problem-solving scenario.
Your report should adopt a positive and analytical tone, emphasizing the strengths of your chosen research technique(s) and highlighting new opportunities for your company. However, your assessment must be realistic and balanced, acknowledging any limitations, areas of uncertainty, and weaknesses of the chosen research technique(s). Since you may be considered for a leading role in implementing your recommendations, your research and analysis should be well-grounded and evidence-based.
To ensure academic rigor, your literature review must include at least 15 refereed technical or scientific papers on your chosen topic. Websites are not considered reliable sources for scholarly research, although they may provide insights into industrial trends. You may reference websites at your own discretion, but they will not count toward your literature review requirement. If you are unsure whether your topic is suitable or if your selected papers meet the criteria, you should seek guidance by consulting your instructor via email or in person.
Assignment tasks:
You will conduct a mini research project on a selected topic within the domain of intelligent manufacturing. The final deliverable will be a structured research report containing the following elements:
1. Introduction
Motivation, Aims, and Objectives
· Clearly define the research problem and its relevance to intelligent manufacturing.
· State the aims and specific objectives of your study.
2. Literature Review
· Conduct a comprehensive review.
· Summarize key findings from existing research, identifying gaps and areas for further exploration.
3. Material and Method
· Outline your research methods (experimental, simulation-based, case study, etc.).
· Justify your choice of methodology with references to relevant literature.
· Describe your data collection and analysis methods.
4. Results and Discussion
· Present initial findings obtained from your research methodology.
· Include relevant figures, tables, or graphs to support your analysis.
· Interpretation of Results
· Implications and Contributions
· Limitations and Future Directions
5. Conclusion and Future Work
· Summarize key findings from your research.
· Highlight the significance of your research outcomes.
· Suggest potential improvements or extensions of your study.
· Outline the next steps for your research.
References
· A list of all technical papers used in your literature review and research.
· Your references should follow an approved citation style. (Harvard, IEEE, etc.).
Submission Requirements
Word Limit: Minimum of 2500 words (including references and appendices).
Formatting: Times New Roman, Font size 12, Line spacing 1.5, 2 cm margins on all sides.
Submission Deadline: 18 April 2025
Submission Format: MS Word file uploaded to the course’s online submission portal.
Suggested Research Topics:
Example topics are provided in the following section; however relevant topics of your choice are also accepted:
i. AI-driven predictive maintenance in industrial automation.
ii. Machine learning approaches for quality control in intelligent manufacturing.
iii. Cybersecurity challenges in smart factories and proposed solutions.
iv. Sustainable manufacturing through intelligent process optimization.
Generative AI Permissions
The use of Generative AI for content generation is not permitted on all assessed coursework in this module, unless allowed by the supervisor. All textual parts cannot be generated by Generative AI. All generated content must have a reference, e.g. “(Generated by ChatGPT)”.