Course content

Products, services and processes are designed and developed in increasingly complex industrial systems. Therefore, system thinking is important in modern production. The course presents a framework based on the systems engineering process to be used for planning, analyzing, and design of industrial systems, such as products, factories and processing plants, operation processes, information systems, and supply chains. A principal introduction to system life cycle phases will be given, with main focus on system design, from conceptual design to production. Major topics in the course are: Stakeholder analysis, requirement analysis and specification, functional analysis, conceptual design, detailed design, and planning for production, system testing, operation, system safety, maintainability, and reuse. Furthermore, analytical methods, reference models and performance indicators for the different phases are presented. The course includes an understanding of sustainability and how environmental aspects can be integrated into system design.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

By the end of this course, the student will be able to explain the connection between systems thinking and systems engineering; will be able to explain how the vee-model provides a roadmap for systems engineering practices; will be able to apply systems engineering practices to a project; and, evaluate a project for the quality of its processes.

Skills:

By the end of this course, the student will be able to identify and practice the habits of systems thinkers; identify and document system elements and their interfaces; design a factory layout or production process; and, critically assess the engineering quality of a system.

General competence (attitudes):

By the end of this course, the student will be able to apply the knowledge of industrial systems engineering to a project requiring multidisciplinary and multicultural teamwork; will be able to track their progress, risks and risk mitigations activities underway; and, can communicate and explain the contributions of systems engineering to system development.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, exercises, and Laboratory-based project work applying relevant theory, methods and industrial cases. Lectures are given in English and the Examination papers will be given in English only. Students are free to choose Norwegian or English for written assessments.

Compulsory assignments

• Work

Recommended previous knowledge

None.

Course materials

Will be given at the beginning of the semester.