Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2010-2011 (archived)

Module ENGI4241: PRODUCTION NETWORKS AND ENERGY MARKETS

Department: Engineering

ENGI4241: PRODUCTION NETWORKS AND ENERGY MARKETS

Type Tied Level 4 Credits 20 Availability Available in 2010/11 Module Cap None. Location Durham
Tied to H100
Tied to H130
Tied to H610
Tied to H640
Tied to H150

Prerequisites

  • ENGI3391 Control and Signal Processing OR MEng(Overseas)

Corequisites

Excluded Combination of Modules

Aims

  • This module is for students intending to fulfil the requirements of the M.Eng. degree programmes in General Engineering (H100), Computer Engineering (H130), Electronic Engineering (H610), Communications Engineering (H640) and Design and Operations Engineering (H7??)
  • This module will provide graduates with the knowledge and the tools necessary to understand, develop, implement and sustain strategies for managing supply chain networks.
  • Furthermore, students will be exposed to the various functional and management areas of an enterprise enabling them to recognise the numerous obstacles of today's global market.
  • The module provides a firm foundation for a broad range of engineering careers in management, logistics and control.
  • To understand why and how market-based solutions have been applied in the electrical supply industry.
  • To introduce key elements of microeconomics and theory of the firm.
  • To understand key priciples of power system risk assessment and how these may be applied in wind integration studies

Content

  • Production planning and supply chain management;
  • Inventory Management;
  • Transshipments in supply chains;
  • Multi-Echelon inventory systems;
  • Strategic alliances, outsourcing, electronic supply chain;
  • Distribution strategies, models and algorithms, applications;
  • The inventory routing problem;
  • Facility location and planning.
  • Energy Markets and aspects of market, competition, and pricing
  • Energy and risk;including aspects of generation adequacy and reliability needs

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • An appreciation and technical understanding of supply chain management problems.
  • An understanding of production and supply network drivers
  • Understanding of management principles of different production and logistic networks.
  • Understanding of the principles of power system economics and how market based solutions can be applied to a previously centrally controlled industry.
  • Understanding of how energy is priced and how network affects marginal prices at different locations
  • Understanding of methods for quantifying risk in power stations and application to system planning and operation in systems with high renewable capacities
Subject-specific Skills:
  • An awareness of current technology, analysis methods and industrial practices along with the ability to apply those methods in novel situations.
  • To use effectively specialised, advanced computational tools and packages for the analysis of control systems.
  • The use of analytic tools and techniques necessary to develop solutions for a variety of production network and logistical problems.
  • The ability to design and model complex production and logistic networks.
  • An in-depth knowledge and understanding of specialised and advanced technical and professional skills in conjunction with an ability to perform critical assessment and review of proposed solutions.
Key Skills:
  • Capacity for independent self-learning within the bounds of professional practice.
  • Highly specialised modelling and optimisation skills appropriate to an engineer.
  • Highly specialised use of information technology (IT) relevant to the engineering profession.
  • Mathematics relevant to the application of advanced engineering concepts.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • The courses in Production Networks and Energy Markets are covered in lectures, and are reinforced by seminars and by problem sheets, leading to the required problem solving capability.
  • Students are able to make use of staff 'Tutorial Hours' to discuss any aspect of the module with teaching staff on a one-to-one basis.
  • Written timed examinations are appropriate because of the wide range of analytical, in-depth material covered in this module and to demonstrate the ability to solve advanced problems independently.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 38 2 per week 1 Hour 38
Seminars 2 2 per week ( week 20 ) 1 Hour 2
Tutorials 4 8 per module up to 1 hour 4
Laboratories 1 2 hours 2
Preparation and Reading 154
Total 200

Summative Assessment

Component: Coursework Component Weighting: 25%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Reseach Essay Assignment 3000 words 75% no
Laboratory Report 1500 25% no
Component: Examination Component Weighting: 75%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Management of Production Networks and Logistics 2 hours 67% No
Energy Markets and Risk 1.5 hours 33% No

Formative Assessment:


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University