Materials in a complex world 2: Characterisation, identification and selection

This unit will focus on materials selection in manufactured products. This will primarily be achieved via a product disassembly project ("lawnmower project"), which aims to identify materials and their processing routes, to analyse why those choices have been made and to propose alternatives, combining simple economic analyses, sustainability, societal and other considerations alongside the technical engineering properties. Professional skills in this unit will focus on concise and effective written communication, across a range of formats and media. You will also develop skills in interpreting, assessing and critiquing data, information and conclusions presented by others. There will be coverage of the economic considerations of materials projects such as quality, risk, value and productivity. Project work undertaken in this unit will continue to build towards a professional portfolio.