MEC5897 Lean manufacturing
Faculty of Engineering
MEC5897 Lean manufacturing is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Engineering, offered in 2026 in Semester 2 at Clayton, Malaysia and Suzhou (SEU). It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 2
- Clayton, Malaysia, Suzhou (SEU)
- Assessment
- Exam 30%
- and 3 other tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before MEC5897
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
After MEC5897
No unit lists MEC5897 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Enrolment rules
You must be currently enrolled in a master’s course in engineering or related STEM and in a related discipline. The unit assumes that you have the necessary foundational knowledge.
Overview
In this unit, you will learn why lean is a key driver for sustainable competitive advantage. You will be introduced to the concepts and principles of lean manufacturing and its relationship to sustainability. Using a range of industry case studies, you will evaluate how to maximise customer value while minimising waste. You will learn how to analyse process flows in order to establish capacity and identify bottlenecks. Topics covered include lean concepts, resource minimisation, pull vs. push philosophy, just-in time production, value stream mapping, and the impact of these methods on business, environment and social value.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus |
| Second semester | Malaysia | On campus |
| Term 3 | Suzhou (SEU) | On campus |
Assessment
- Anylogic simulationProjectThreshold hurdle25%
- Lean consultingWrittenThreshold hurdle25%
- QuizQuiz / TestThreshold hurdle20%
- Final assessmentExaminationThreshold hurdle30%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Describe the key concepts and principles of lean manufacturing and analyse the relationship between theory and practice.
- 2
Design a value stream map and explain how defects and waste can degrade performance.
- 3
Justify the selection and promotion of strategic quality management systems to support continuous improvement practice.
- 4
Analyse a production process and apply lean principles to improve process performance and outcomes.
- 5
Design strategies to assess and improve sustainable lean practices.
Workload and teaching
- Workshops24 hours
- Lectures12 hours
- Practical activities24 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of 3-6 hours of scheduled learning activities and 6-9 hours of independent study per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher-directed learning, peer-directed learning and online engagement. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities.
Where it fits
MEC5897 is part of 3 areas of study in the 2026 handbook.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Yunlong Tang
- Dr Ho Kok Hoe
- Associate Professor Qijun Zheng
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Yunlong Tang
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for MEC5897?
MEC5897 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is MEC5897 offered?
In 2026, MEC5897 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton, Malaysia and Suzhou (SEU).
How much work is MEC5897?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does MEC5897 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 30% of the final mark, alongside 3 other tasks.
Which majors and minors include MEC5897?
MEC5897 is part of Decarbonisation and net zero; Industrial AI and robotics engineering; and Mechanical engineering.