EG3180

INDUSTRIAL GROUP DESIGN

PROJECT HANDBOOK

Module Leader Dr G. Simpson

Room 122

g.simpson@kingston.ac.uk

Version dated 27th September 2010 page 1 of 13

INTRODUCTION:

The student group design team will be presented with an initial specification that is
normally industrially-related. The suitability of the topic will have been checked by the
group supervisor. Over the following two semesters the student group must develop
this initial specification into a final design.

Initially, the student group works towards a concept design solution which is reported on
at the end of semester 1. The group then proceeds to a detailed design solution which
is reported on late in semester 2. The group will meet each week with the supervisor
present as an observer and with a student chairperson and a student secretary who will
run the meeting. The chairperson and secretary will be rotated so that all team
members gain experience of these functions. Each week team members will present a
brief report of the progress made on the specific tasks allocated to them by the group.

Over the two semesters the group must develop a coherent and credible final design. In
order to achieve this objective the group must establish a plan and work schedule,
perform the technical tasks necessary to fulfil the plan, monitor progress and resolve
any problems that arise.

Since most group members are only involved with parts of the project an individual
group member may lack the overall perspective needed to resolve issues with
implications for other areas and to keep the project as a whole on course. To avoid
difficulties of this nature, the group may wish to appoint a project manager/coordinator
with specific responsibility for general management and non-technical troubleshooting.
It must be emphasised, however, that appointing a project manager is futile unless all
group members are actually prepared to be managed.

During the project, students may correspond privately with individuals, companies, or
other bodies, but must not use Kingston University headed paper nor enclose a
compliments slip unless the communication has been authorised and screened by the
group supervisor. On no account are students authorised to invite visitors on to
Kingston University premises. Visitors must be invited by a member of staff in order to
comply with insurance, safety and security regulations.

Version dated 27th September 2010 page 2 of 13

SUMMARY OF PROJECT DELIVERABLES AND DEADLINES:

In January 2011, one hard copy plus an electronic copy of an individual design
solution report showing an initial concept design solution and highlighting the student's
personal contribution to this together with an individual log book must be submitted by
each group member to the Student Office, Hawker Wing.

Deadline: twelve noon, Thursday 20th January 2011.

In June 2010, two hard copies plus an electronic copy of the final group design
solution report, containing the detailed design solution together with the individual log
books from all group members must be submitted to The Student Office, Hawker Wing.

Deadline : twelve noon, Thursday 2nd June 2011.

If University facilities are to be used to produce reports, you should allow extra time for
this to account for possible queueing.

Reports submitted late which are judged to be of the required pass standard will
be capped at a mark of 40%. Reports submitted more than ONE WEEK late will
receive a mark of 0%. Problems with computer hardware and software will not be
considered as valid reasons for late submission.

All requests for the consideration of mitigating circumstances should be made in

writing on the appropriate university form which can be obtained from the Student
Office, Hawker Wing. This form must be submitted directly to Dr G.Simpson.

Please note that group supervisors are NOT PERMITTED to authorise extensions
to any of the above hand-in deadlines.

The final group design solution report must be typed and bound between official Faculty
of Engineering project covers (available from the Faculty Office). The use of these
covers is not necessary for the individual design solution report. Reports must not use
a header/footer containing a reference to Kingston University or to the Faculty of
Engineering.

It is essential to note that the quality of the report is more important than the size. To
encourage work which is clear and concise, both reports are subject to the following
word-count restrictions in the main body of the text:

Individual design solution report 3,000 words

Final group design solution report 30,000 words

Reports outside the agreed limits may be penalised. Note, however, that in both cases
appendices are not included in these totals and may be included where necessary to
deal with certain topics in more detail than in the main report.

The writing of effective reports is an important skill for a professional engineer. The
library has several books on this topic.
Version dated 27th September 2010 page 3 of 13
Log Books:

A properly kept log book (containing details of work undertaken, results, conclusions
and other relevant information) is vital to a successful professional engineer since it
provides a definitive record of work. You are required to keep a log book throughout the
project. This should be a contemporaneous day-to-day working record of your
individual work on the project. Ideally, it should be written up daily or as soon as
possible thereafter. It is unacceptable to write it up retrospectively. The log book is a
significant part of the work upon which the project assessment is based. Your group
supervisor may request to see your logbook at any time.

Group Seminar and Poster:

Being able to conduct a presentation is also a necessary skill for the professional
engineer. As part of the project, therefore, the group is required to conduct a
presentation to a professional engineering audience. Several books covering
presentation techniques can be found in the library. The presentation session is
normally 45 minutes in length including a period for questions and discussion. The
group poster should be brought along to the seminar. You should discuss your
presentation and poster with your supervisor who will be able to advise you on its
structure.

The Group project seminars will take place in week beginning 30th May 2011.

Version dated 27th September 2010 page 4 of 13

ASSESSMENT POINT 1 : INDIVIDUAL DESIGN SOLUTION REPORT & LOG BOOK

The first assessment point is the submission of the individual design solution report and
an individual log book from each group member. This assessment contributes 30% of
the overall mark for the Group Design Project:

i) Individual report 15%

ii) Individual log book 10%
iii) Contribution to group effort 5%

The individual design solution report is a document which aims to define the purpose of
the Industrial Group Design Project, describe its progress to date and to demonstrate
the author's understanding of and contribution to this.

The quality of the report is more important than the size. To encourage work which is
clear and concise, the main body of the report must be between 2500 and 3000 words.
Reports outside the agreed limits will be penalised. Note, however, that appendices are
not included in these totals and may be included where necessary to deal with certain
topics in more detail than in the main body of the report.

In preparing the individual design solution report it is essential that you reference your
work correctly. Page 11 of this document contains important information. Please read it.

The contribution of each student to the group effort will be determined, in part, by the
group members themselves. Each group member is required to give an assessment of
every other member by completing the peer assessment form GDP1 (individual design
solution report stage) at the back of this handbook. This must be completed and
submitted by the individual design solution report submission deadline stated on page 3
of this document. This process is completely confidential.

The log book is an ongoing record of all matters connected with the Group Design
Project and is also used to assess the amount of effort that is made. The log book and
one hard copy plus an electronic copy of the individual design solution report must be
submitted by the deadline stated on page 3 of this document.

Unless detailed otherwise by the supervisor, the assessment of the individual design
solution report, log book and the contribution of the student to the group effort will be
performed using the criteria detailed on pages 6 and 7 of this document. All criteria
should be addressed, but they need not be used as section headings in your reports.

Version dated 27th September 2010 page 5 of 13

A. Report Content

1. Introduction and definition

A clear background to the subject matter of the project should be provided, explaining
its relevance, putting the overall project in clear perspective and detailing the problem
that the project is addressing.

2. Aims and objectives

A set of clearly-defined aims and objectives for the project should be provided, together
with details of the deliverables that will be produced by the end of the project.

3. Current status

The current status of the project should be described, with particular reference to the
aims and objectives.

4. Personal role and achievements

An explanation of the report author’s role, duties and responsibilities within the project
should be provided. This should include a description of the achievements to date,
tasks executed, problems encountered and proposed solutions.

5. Discussion and conclusions

The current status of the project should be discussed. Any implications for the
remainder of the project should be identified and addressed and related to the project
objectives. Any special features of the project should be outlined and any limitations of
the work and unresolved issues should be addressed.

6. Technical competence

Application of relevant learning and necessary principles together with an appreciation

of the technical and scientific factors involved must be demonstrated.

B. Report Presentation

7. Writing style

The writing style should be clear, effective and conform to that in general use in
technical reports. Correct grammar and spelling should be used throughout the report.

8. Structure and layout

The overall structure of the report should be clear and logical. The report should be
laid-out in a manner which makes it easy for the reader to extract the necessary
information from it, and which conforms to the general layout of technical reports.

Version dated 27th September 2010 page 6 of 13

9. Figures, Tables and Engineering drawings

Figures and tables should be used where appropriate and should be fully and correctly
labelled. Engineering drawings must be completed to relevant standards.

10. Information sources

Any text, diagrams, ideas or other information which do not originate with the report
author should be clearly identified and the sources properly cited and referenced.

C. Log Book

11. Proper use

The project Log Book must have been used on a regular basis and should be a dated
contemporaneous record demonstrating the day to day conduct of the project.

12. Effort demonstrated

The content of the Log Book should demonstrate a consistent and good level of effort
throughout the project.

D. Group Effort

13. Contribution

The individual contribution made by each team member to the team effort, activities and
total output. This is appraised, in part, by peer assessment.

14. Group effectiveness and management

The group should demonstrate the ability to work as an effective team, rather than as a
group of individuals. The group should demonstrate the ability to manage itself, its
operation and its communications.

Version dated 27th September 2010 page 7 of 13

ASSESSMENT POINT 2: GROUP SEMINAR WITH POSTER

The second assessment point is the group seminar with poster. This assessment
contributes 15% of the overall mark for the Group Design Project:

i) Presentation 10%
ii) Poster 5%

The seminar should be a technical presentation that summarises the whole project and
presents the final design solution while making clear the reasons for the various design
decisions. Of particular importance are the project background, the aims and
objectives, the design development and design iterations required before convergence
on the final design solution, together with details of any parametric analysis performed.
The final project outcome and the degree to which the project aims have been achieved
should be discussed.

All members of the Design Team should take part in the presentation.

The group poster should be prepared and delivered to the seminar location for
assessment on the day of the seminar.

Each member of the team will be given an overall assessment based on their
performance in the seminar. Individual criteria will not be assessed explicitly, but the
supervisor will take into account similar factors to those used for assessment of the
Individual Project Seminars. The whole team will be assessed on the group poster.
The final mark for this assessment point will be based on the combination of the
individual presentation mark and the Group Poster mark.

Version dated 27th September 2010 page 8 of 13

ASSESSMENT POINT 3 : GROUP DESIGN SOLUTION REPORT & LOG BOOKS

The third and final assessment point in the project is the submission of the final group
design solution report and individual log books. This assessment contributes 55% of
the overall mark for the Group Design Project:

i) Group report content and presentation 35%

ii) Log book 15%
iii) Contribution to group effort 5%

The final group design solution report should encompass the whole project process and
demonstrate and discuss not only the final design, but also the process by which it was
arrived at, and any conclusions arising from the work. Of particular importance are the
project background, the aims and objectives, the design development and design
iterations required before convergence on the final design solution, together with details
of any parametric analysis performed. The final project outcome and the degree to
which the project aims have been achieved should be discussed.

All members of the Design Team should write part of the group design solution report
and the authorship of each section should be clearly labelled. It is important to
remember that the quality of the report is more important than the size. To encourage
work which is clear and concise, the report main body text must be between 2000 and
3000 words per group member and the Summary should be between 2000-3000 words.
Reports outside the agreed limits will be penalised. Note, however, that appendices are
not included in these totals and may be included where necessary to deal with certain
topics in more detail than in the main report.

In preparing the final group design solution report it is essential that you reference your
work correctly. Page 11 of this document contains important information. Please read it.

The contribution of each student to the group effort will be determined, in part, by the
group members themselves. Each group member is required to give an assessment of
every other member by completing the peer assessment form GDP2 (group design
solution report stage) at the back of this handbook. This must be completed and
returned by the group design solution report submission deadline stated on page 3 of
this document. This process is completely confidential.

Two hard copies plus an electronic copy of the group design solution report, bound
between official Faculty of Engineering project covers (available from the Student
Office) together with all individual log books, must be submitted by the deadline stated
on page 3 of this document.

Unless detailed otherwise by the supervisor, the assessment of the group design
solution report and log book will be performed using the criteria previously detailed on
pages 6 and 7 of this document. The criteria for Report Presentation, Log Book and
Group Effort are identical with those used at Assessment Point 1. However, those used
for Report Content are different and are listed below. As before, all criteria should be
addressed, but they need not be used as section headings in the report.

Version dated 27th September 2010 page 9 of 13

A. Report Content

1. Summary

A concise general overview of the project, the aims and objectives and the major results
and achievements should be provided.

2. Problem and significance

A clear explanation of the project subject should be provided and its significance
described.

3. Review of other work

Other related work in the field should be summarised.

4.Project methodology

The engineering methods used in carrying out the project should be clearly described.

5. Technical competence

Technical competence in carrying out the project should be demonstrated.

6. Results or findings

The results or findings of the project should be clearly described.

7. Discussion and conclusions

The final status of the project should be discussed, any implications for the remainder of
the project identified and addressed and related to the project objectives, special
features of the project outlined and limitations and discrepancies addressed.

Version dated 27th September 2010 page 10 of 13

PLAGIARISM:

Plagiarism is completely unacceptable at Kingston University and is dealt with very

severely. To avoid plagiarism you must be sure you understand what plagiarism is, and
how to avoid it.

The importance of correctly acknowledging the work of others cannot be over-

emphasised. It is absolutely essential that specific, detailed references are provided
locally within your work for each and every extract you take from work that is not your
own. A general reference at the end of a report to a source from which you have
extracted text items is not acceptable.

The use of italics and/or inverted commas to highlight text extracts which are not
your own original work is a simple way of demonstrating honesty in your work
and of avoiding any problems. Each text extract you use should be individually
linked to a numbered list of specific references provided at the end of your work.

For further information, see the information on Student space at:

http://student.kingston.ac.uk/C6/Plagiarism

When you follow the above link, you should see a further link to the Kingston University
Plagiarism tutorial:

http://student.kingston.ac.uk/C13/Finding%20the%20information%20you%20ne/Workbo
oks/plagiarism/page_01.htm

The above tutorial is excellent and sets out the Kingston University rules clearly. Please
take the time to work through it.

The university may screen work submitted by students using plagiarism detection
software. This software reveals what percentage of the work matches internet
material. However matches will not be considered as plagiarism if text extracts
are correctly referenced.

Version dated 27th September 2010 page 11 of 13

 FORM GDP1
EG3180 Industrial Group Design Project (BEng Engineering Design)
Assessment Point 1 (Preliminary Design Solution Report and Log Book)
Peer Assessment Form

Part of the mark for each student at this assessment point comes from contribution to group effort.
This mark is, in turn, is partly derived from peer assessment by the other students in the group.
Please complete the form as detailed below and return it to the School Office with your Individual
Design Solution Report and Log Book. This process is completely confidential.

i) Enter the name of the Supervisor and the project title in the two boxes below.

Supervisor

Project Title

ii) Enter the names of the students in your Design Team neatly in the left-hand column below.

iii) Enter your assessment of the level of contribution to group effort of each student except for
yourself. Please try and give a realistic assessment. The scale is as follows:

7+ First class 4 Third

6 Upper Second 3 Pass
5 Lower Second 2- Fail

Student Assessment

Version dated 27th September 2010 page 12 of 13

 FORM GDP2
EG3180 Industrial Group Design Project (BEng Engineering Design)
Assessment Point 2 (Group Design Solution Report and Log Book)
Peer Assessment Form

Part of the mark for each student at this assessment point comes from contribution to group effort.
This mark is, in turn, is partly derived from peer assessment by the other students in the group.
Please complete the form as detailed below and return it to the School Office with your Log Book.
This process is completely confidential.

i) Enter the name of the Supervisor and the project title in the two boxes below.

Supervisor

Project Title

ii) Enter the names of the students in your Design Team neatly in the left-hand column below.

iii) Enter your assessment of the level of contribution to group effort of each student except for
yourself. Please try and give a realistic assessment. The scale is as follows:

7+ First class 4 Third

6 Upper Second 3 Pass
5 Lower Second 2- Fail

Student Assessment

Version dated 27th September 2010 page 13 of 13