Course syllabus for Platform development and modularization management

Course syllabus adopted 2021-02-26 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish namePlattformsutveckling och modularisering
  • CodeTEK020
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerMPQOM
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyIndustrial Engineering and Management
  • DepartmentTECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMICS
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 36116
  • Maximum participants35
  • Minimum participants10
  • Block schedule
  • Open for exchange studentsYes

Credit distribution

0105 Examination 7.5 c
Grading: TH		 7.5 c
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In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Aim

This course aims at give the student a good understanding of platform development and modularization in the manufacturing industry. Platforms and modularization are two concepts and ways to accomplish and organizing product development. These two concepts have during the last couple of years become very commonly used among large parts of the firms in the manufacturing industry. Hence, the importance of this course, to increase students awareness and meaning of the two concepts. The two concepts and strategies will be explained and discusses from three different perspective all of equal importance when implementing a platform and/or modularization strategy. The three perspectives that will be used are product, organization and product development process. When having completed the course the student should have developed his/her knowledge about how platform development and modularization should be managed in order to develop new products and a large variety of different products in a more efficient way

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

- Understand the meaning of platform development and modularization.

- Explain the benefits of implementing these two strategies in a company.

- Explain, and use, different concepts, models and tools that can be used to analyze a manufacturing company's product assortment, R&D organization and product development process.

- Give suggestions about how a specific company should implement and further develop a platform and modularization strategy.

Content

The course runs over approximately eight weeks. During the first weeks there will be a number of lectures (as well as guest lecturers) giving an overview of the area, as well as a theoretiocal and practical background to platform development and modularization. The following weeks center on writing a topic report. A work that will be done in groups of five to six students. Each group has to hand-in a topic report of approximately 15 pages. In the course there will also be literature seminars aiming to discuss articles from different scientific journals.

Organisation

Magnus Persson, Associate Professor, Division of Innovation and R&D Management (examiner and lecturer).

Literature

Various articles and book chapters.

Examination including compulsory elements

The examination is based on three different parts, the topic report (a written report, oral presentation and reflection), the literature seminars (hand-in of answers to questions before the seminar and active participation during the seminar), and an individual reflection (hand-in) concerning the guest lectures. It is possible to have a maximum of 50 points on the topic report (45 points on the report and 5 points on the presentation of it), 30 points on the literature seminars, 10 points on the individual reflection concerning the guest lectures and 10 points on the individual reflection concerning the topic reports. In addition to this, attendance at the mandatory activities (the guest lectures and the different group presentations) is needed to pass the course.

The points from the topic report, the literature seminars and the individual reflections will be summarized into total number of points for the course (maximum 100 points). Please, observe that to pass the course you need to have at least 20 points on the topic report and 12 points on the literature seminars. Having passed all of the requirements (and having 40-59 points), a grade of 3 will be awarded. A result of 60-79 points will result in the grade 4. The highest grade 5 will be awarded for 80 points and over.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.