MEC6883 Mechanical systems design
Faculty of Engineering
MEC6883 Mechanical systems design is a level 6, 0-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Engineering, offered in 2026 in Semester 1 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 0
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 1
- Clayton
- Assessment
- Exam 30%
- and 4 other tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before MEC6883
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
After MEC6883
No unit lists MEC6883 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Enrolment rules
You must be enrolled in the Engineering PHD program or with permission from the Faculty of Engineering. The unit assumes that you have the necessary foundational knowledge.
Equivalent units
The same content under another code. Only one of them counts.
Overview
This unit will emphasise engineering design with a focus on designing a system rather than the individual components of a system. In this way, the unit will integrate mechanical design with material selection, manufacture, and control systems, and the needs of in-service monitoring to optimise system performance. Quality management systems, lean techniques and lifecycle assessment will be applied to the proposed product or service to understand system variability, maximise and maintain value-creation and assess environmental impacts.
This unit uses case studies, group work and design projects as key learning methodologies to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical outcomes. You can expect a strong practical focus with extensive use of computer-aided design and analysis software.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- Lab/class performanceDemonstrationThreshold hurdle5%
- Problem definition reportWrittenThreshold hurdle15%
- PresentationThreshold hurdle10%
- Final reportWrittenThreshold hurdle40%
- 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
Interpret and analyse problems from an engineering perspective but also integrate the relevant social, cultural, environmental, legislative, ethical and business factors.
- 2
Demonstrate creative problem-solving, decision-making and design skills to develop innovative concepts, products, services and solutions.
- 3
Conduct appropriate computer modelling or experiments and assess the accuracy and limitations of those methods.
- 4
Apply industry standard project management tools and practices.
- 5
Generate findings in both written and verbal formats and critique and evaluate the work of others.
- 6
Engage in regular self-assessment and peer assessment of individual and team performance as a primary means of tracking continuing professional development.
Workload and teaching
- Workshops24 hours
- Practical activities24 hours
- Teaching approachSimulation or virtual practice
- Teaching approachEnquiry-based learning
- Teaching approachOnline learning
- Teaching approachIndustry-based learning
- Teaching approachPeer assisted learning
- Teaching approachResearch activities
- Teaching approachCase-based teaching
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.
Simulation tools are applied to a deisgn problem
You are encouraged to define your own problem, investigate and come up with solutions
Lecture material delivered online
Industry guests
Group work and feedback
The design project will require you to undertake research on your topic
Case examples are used and applied during workshops
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Professor Kerry Hourigan
- Unit Coordinators
- Professor Kerry Hourigan
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for MEC6883?
MEC6883 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is MEC6883 offered?
In 2026, MEC6883 runs in Semester 1 at Clayton.
How much work is MEC6883?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does MEC6883 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 30% of the final mark, alongside 4 other tasks.