What resources, materials and methods are used and what set of activities goes under the heading of 'manufacturing'? This free course will introduce manufacturing as a system and will describe some of the many different ways of making products. We will illustrate how the required properties of the materials in a product influence the choice of manufacturing process used.

Course learning outcomes

After studying this course, you should be able to:

• explain the difference between industrial and engineering design with reference to familiar products; and for specific products explain whether it is the product's form or its function that enhances its value in the marketplace
• understand the concept of a product design specification (PDS), and be able to indicate some to the factors which should be included in producing one
• describe the role of marketing in developing the PDS for a product
• classify products simply in terms of their basic shape
• describe the difference between the hot and cold working of metals and give the advantages of each.