UNIVERSITY OF MAURITIUS

MODULE SPECIFICATION SHEET

1.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Academic Year: 2014/2015

Semester(s): 1 & 2
Title
Manufacturing Systems Engineering

Code
MECH
4002Y

Duration (hrs)
Lectures: 60
Practicals: 30

No of credits
5

Total: 90
2.

PRE-REQUISITE(S)/PRE-REQUIREMENT(S)
Nil

3.
AIMS
The main aims of this module are:

To expose the students to the basic principles of advanced manufacturing systems and robotics.
To understand the application of those principles in an industrial context.
To introduce the students to the concept of simulation.
4.

OUTLINE SYLLABUS

Fundamentals Of Manufacturing & Automation; Group Technology (including case studies); Flexible
Manufacturing Systems (including case studies); Robotics: Kinematics, Robot characteristics, Robot Cell Design
and Control, Robot Implementation and safety requirements, End Effectors); Sensors; Robot Vision; Simulation
of Manufacturing Systems: concepts, types of application, available systems, Introduction to computer-assisted
simulation using WITNESS software, Conceptual Modelling, Developing the Conceptual Model, Data
Collection, Experimentation and Analysis of results, case studies and mini-project; Introduction to PLCs.
5.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
Having studied this module, the students should be able to:
- Quantify the various production parameters for the analysis of a manufacturing system.
- Develop an appropriate machine layout configuration for a specific production system.
- Understand and implement appropriate coding and classification systems.
- Develop a cellular manufacturing system configuration for batch manufacturing in order to
optimize on machine resources and reducing manufacturing lead-time.
- Provide a detailed analysis of input/output interlock signals, physical parameter requirements, and
sensor requirements for the implementation of Flexible Manufacturing Systems.
- Develop a pre-feasibility study for the implementation of a robotic system (including sensors) for a
specific application.
- Identify appropriate safety interlocking systems for specific robot operation.
- Selection of appropriate robot end effectors based on specific application.
- Understand and analyse robot arm kinematic system using the Denavit-Hartenberg approach.
- Understand the type of vision system available for robotic systems.
- Understand and apply appropriate edge detection algorithm for analysis of digital images.
- Understand the components and functioning of a PLC system, and its application in industry.
- Develop basic ladder diagrams for PLC systems.
- Understand the importance and application of simulation in the manufacturing and service industry.
- Develop a real production and/or service system model on the WITNESS simulation software and
testing the model with actual data.

6.

COORDINATORS:
Programme Coordinator
D. K. HURREERAM
Mechanical & Prod Engg
Engineering Tower

Name
Department
Building
Room Number
Phone No.
E-mail address
Consultation Time
7.

dk.hurreeram@uom.ac.mu

Module Coordinator
H. RAMASAWMY
Mechanical & Prod Engg
Engineering Tower
5.3
403 7842
haree@uom.ac.mu
12.00 hrs to 13.00 hrs

LECTURER

Name
Department
Building
Room Number
Phone No.
E-mail address
Consultation Time
8.

H. RAMASAWMY
Mechanical & Prod Engg
Engineering Tower
5.3
403 7842
haree@uom.ac.mu
12.00 hrs to 13.00 hrs

VENUE AND HOURS/WEEK

Hours/week: 2 hrs of lecture per week (Tuesdays from 8 am to 10 am) and 1 hr of practical per week. All
lectures will be held in the CAD Studio. Practicals will be held in the Robotics lab (5th Floor Engg Tower)
and CAD Studio.

9.

MODULE MAP

Semester 1:
Wk(s)

Hr(s)

4
5
6

2
2
2

10

11

12

13

14

15

Lecture Title(s)
Course Overview + Introduction to Advanced Manufacturing

Lecturer
Initials
H.R

L, P, S, V, T,
Test
L

H.R

L+T

H.R

L+T

H.R
H.R
H.R

L
L+T
L+S

H.R

H. R

H.R

H.R

H.R

L+T

H.R

H.R

H.R

L + TEST

H.R

L +T

Systems
Fundamentals Of Manufacturing & Automation I & Plant layout
Fundamentals Of Manufacturing & Automation II
Principles of Material Handling & Equipment
Group Technology I: Coding & Classification
Group Technology II: Machine/Part Matrix & Cell Design
Group Technology III: PFA and Group Analysis
Group Technology (Case Studies)
Group Technology (Case Studies)
Introduction to PLCs, Components of a PLC system
Programming of PLCs using Ladder diagrams
Industrial Robots I: Characteristics of a Robot
Industrial Robots II (Robot Cell Design)
Robot Interlocks & Safety Systems + TEST 1
Robot Arm Kinematic

Semester 2:
Wk(s)

Hr(s)

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

Lecture Title(s)
Sensors for Robotic Systems I: Internal Sensors
Sensors for Robotic Systems II: External Sensors
Robot Vision System
Edge Detection Techniques & Robot End Effectors
Simulation Systems I: Introduction to Simulation
Simulation Systems II: Hand Simulation exercises
Simulation Systems III: Building simple model on WITNESS

Lecturer
Initials
H. R

L, P, S, V, T,
Test
L

H. R

H. R

H. R

H. R

L+T

H. R

L+ T

H. R

L+T

H. R

L+T

H. R

L + TEST

using Machine elements, Labour, Buffers, etc.

Simulation Systems IV: Input & Output rules, rule editor
Simulation Systems V: Modelling real data, sampling &
Distribution + TEST 2
Simulation Systems VI: Modelling stoppages, Variables,

H. R
L+ T

Counters
26

27

28

29

30

Simulation Systems VII: Attributes & graphical elements

Introduction to Flexible Manufacturing Systems
Flexible Manufacturing Systems (Case Studies)
Feasibility study for implementation of automated systems
Revision

H. R

H. R

H. R

L+T

H. R

L+T

H. R

L+T

Abbreviations: L: Lectures, P: Practicals, T: Tutorials, V: Visits, S: Seminars

10.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS/JOURNALS/WEBSITES

Automation, Production Systems, and Computer Integrated Manufacturing by Mikell P. Groover.

Industrial Robotics, Technology, Programming and Applications by Groover.
Simulation of manufacturing systems by Allan Carrie A.

11. ESSAY(S)/ASSIGNMENT(S)/PRACTICAL(S)

Title

Maximum
Marks

Last Submission Date

20

Friday 13th February 2015

25

Friday 17th April 2015

15

Lab sessions as per schedule

provided to students.

Mini-project (Group): Design of an Automated/Robotics

system in industry.
The assessment of the mini-project is by Group Report.
Mini-project (Individual): Design of a computer
simulation model of a real engineering system.
The assessment of the mini-project is by a neat
handwritten Report.
PLC & Robotics practicals

12.

ASSESSMENT

(i)

Written Examination:
Paper Structure

Sections (if any): Nil

No. of questions to be answered: 5

Multiple Choice Questions: Nil

Compulsory Questions (if any): 5

Exams date: NA

Paper Duration: 3hrs

Weighting (%): 70

Pass Marks: 40

Total Marks: 100

(ii)

Continuous Assessment
Weighting (%): 30

Assignment(s)/MiniProjects: 2
Practical(s):
Test(s): 2
Total Marks:

Weighting (%)
45
15
40
100