Course description
Operations Excellence MSc: Course Description: Operations Excellence is a world-leading programme developed by Cranfield University through a unique partnership with Rolls-Royce and the Institute for Manufacturing at the University of Cambridge. The course has been designed to enhance the skills of professionals leading the development of the operations supply chain, both internally and externally. It develops skills and knowledge required to lead the implementation of change in business. It covers all aspects of the supply chain, from introducing new products, operating effective factories, through to managing new technologies and working with suppliers. This course addresses the need for highly trained operations professionals required to transform operations into a world-class business in all sectors of manufacturing business.Start Months: Part-time: October School: School of Aerospace, Manufacturing and Transport Sytems Theme: Manufacturing Entry Requirements:A first or second class UK Honours degree (or equivalent) ideally in a related subject. Other recognised professional qualifications or several years relevant industrial experience may be accepted as equivalent; subject to approval by the Course Director. For further and specific information please visit the course page. English Language: If you are an international student you will need to provide evidence that you have achieved a satisfactory test result in an English qualification. The minimum standard expected from a number of accepted courses are as follows: IELTS - 6.5 TOEFL - 92 Pearson PTE Academic - 65 Cambridge English Scale - 180 Cambridge English: Advanced - C Cambridge English: Proficiency - C In addition to these minimum scores you are also expected to achieve a balanced score across all elements of the test. We reserve the right to reject any test score if any one element of the test score is too low. We can only accept tests taken within two years of your registration date (with the exception of Cambridge English tests which have no expiry date). Students requiring a Tier 4 (General) visa must ensure they can meet the English language requirements set out by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and we recommend booking a IELTS for UKVI test. Duration: Part-time MSc - up to three years Course format: TaughtMScOverview:A world-leading programme developed by Cranfield through a unique partnership with Rolls-Royce and the Institute for Manufacturing at the University of Cambridge. Designed for industry professionals to fit around demanding careers, the course has been designed to develop the skills to lead change in business. Who is it for? For those who recognise the potential for a long and successful career in manufacturing, Cranfield offers the ideal balance of academic study and practical work experience. This course addresses the need for highly trained operations professionals required to transform operations into a world-class business in all sectors of manufacturing. The Operations Excellence course is structured to allow maximum benefit from learning with minimum time away from the working environment. Why this course? Companies seek out streamlined processes to enable them to be more efficient, improve quality and be more cost effective. The Operations Excellence course brings together expertise across several disciplines to inform industry and help companies stay ahead of their competitors.Students learn from other cohort members, from industry practitioners and from developing solutions to individual issues through group and individual projects.These industry experts teach alongside academics from Cranfield and Cambridge who have a wealth of experience in operations excellence.We have exceptional facilities many of which are unique in the university sector. Students on the Operations Excellence course benefit from this infrastructure which also supports our work with industrial partners. Students have access to computing facilities and laboratories suitable for general purpose and engineering applications. A vast range of specialist software applications are available including Witness, SAP and CAD IDEAS. Informed by Industry: Our courses are designed to meet the training needs of industry and have a strong input from experts in their sector. Students who have excelled have their performances recognised through course awards. The awards are provided by high profile organisations and individuals, and are often sponsored by our industrial partners. Awards are presented on Graduation Day. Your teaching team: You will be taught by a wide range of subject specialists here and from outside the University who draw on their research and industrial experience to provide stimulating and relevant input to your learning experience. Many of the lecturers have worked in industry themselves, some at Managing Director level, and have actual experience of leading productivity improvements.Guest lecturers include speakers from Rolls-Royce plc, Primary People, Alan Roberson Associates, Global Closure Systems and Nissan.Excellent staff to student ratios leads to focused discussion about real-world issues in implementing operations excellence. Accreditation: The MSc in Operations Excellence is accredited by the Institution of Engineering & Technology (IET), Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Candidates must hold a CEng accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to comply with full CEng registration requirements.Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS)Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).Please note accreditation applies to the MSc award. PgDip and PgCert do not meet in full the further learning requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Course details: Comprises an induction week, a series of taught modules, a manufacturing study tour, a group project and an individual thesis project. The modules include lectures and tutorials, and are assessed through written examinations and assignments. These provide key information for subsequent project work. The Institute for Manufacturing (IfM) at University of Cambridge delivers two of the modules.Industrially supported and relevant project work undertaken represents 60% of the total study time. It enables delegates to apply the knowledge and skills learnt from the taught element of the course and put them into practice. Projects are chosen to ensure delegates are able to relate the content directly to the performance of the business and its future success. The individual thesis work is particularly focused on the delegate’s company with critical thinking encouraged and supported by thought leaders from the University.Students who have excelled in the course have their performance recognised through course awards, sponsored by Rolls-Royce, Arthur Corfe and Professor John Kay. These are presented to the winners when they Graduate. Group project:The Group project gives a team of students the opportunity to take the responsibility for a consultancy type project working for an industrial sponsor. (Note: a dissertation can replace the group project.)Recent projects include:Rolls-Royce plc - Evaluation of engine assembly methodsWeetabix - Optimisation of combined heat and power plantLinx - Development of a new manufacturing facilityNCT Leather - Maximising manufacturing capability.Individual project:The individual project allows each student to demonstrate their independent learning ability and interest in advancing their knowledge through the pursuit of independent research and/or development work in an industrially relevant area and communicate their ideas, analysis and conclusions in written and oral formats. The subject of the thesis is agreed between the delegate and the supervisor and will normally be based around part of the taught material and/or a company problem. The project will be carried out at a company and/or at Cranfield University depending on the nature of the project. Assessment: Taught modules 40%, Group project or dissertation 20%, Individual project 40% Core modules: Business and Manufacturing StrategyEffective FactoriesInnovation ManagementManagement Accounting and Human Resource ManagementManufacturing Assessment and ImprovementProduction Planning and ControlRealising Competitive ManufactureTechnology ManagementFunding Opportunities: Students are usually supported by their employer.To help students find and secure appropriate funding, we have created a funding finder where you can search for suitable sources of funding by filtering the results to suit your needs. Your career:Individuals selected to participate in this programme will be able to deliver significant business benefits to their employer/sponsoring company immediately. In addition, the greater depth and breadth of skills gained will enable graduates to progress to more senior roles in the future.
