Kettering University

Syllabus

Environmentally Conscious Design and Manufacturing
Course Syllabus

Course Description:
This is a multi-disciplinary course that provides students with the perspective and skills (economic, managerial, ethical, scientific, and engineering) needed to critically examine environmental issues in product design and manufacturing and to arrive at viable solutions to these problems.  Emphasis is placed on solutions that reduce costs and improve environmental performance.  The course is open to engineering, science and management undergraduate and graduate students and focuses on examples of environmental issues related to the goods and services produced by Kettering University’s industrial co-operative education partners.  The course uses case studies to introduce new concepts to students which are then reinforced through group discussion, guest speakers, laboratory experiences and other activities.

Course Learning Objectives:
By the end of this course, students will demonstrate enhanced critical thinking through increased application of problem solving strategies, intellectual standards, elements of reasoning and the traits of master reasoners.  Utilizing six topical modules, students will be able to:

1. Provide a critical analysis of the historical, ethical, social, philosophical, and regulatory issues underlying the environmental impact of goods and services.
2. Evaluate life cycle analyses of products and/or processes and propose strategies for addressing environmental impact while still meeting design and economic requirements.
3. Conduct a material selection with a goal of reducing the environmental impact of a product and/or process while simultaneously reducing material costs.
4. Use appropriate tools to evaluate the environmental impact of a manufacturing process and recommend actions for reducing this impact and minimize production costs.
5. Propose design changes to a product to enhance recycling, reuse and/or remanufacturing capability with consideration of the economics of these activities.
6. Identify and apply best practices in promoting the environment in a corporate setting.

Date Suggested Lecture Schedule (each lecture lasts 2 hours Lectures 1-3 Module 1 - Technology, the environment and industrial ecology Lectures 4-6 Module 2 - Life cycle concepts and assessment Lectures 7-9 Module 3 - Material Selection Lectures 10-12 Module 4 - Process Design Issues Lectures 13-14 Green Chemistry – in-class activities Lectures 15-17 Module 5 - End-of-use strategies Lectures 18-20 Module 6 - Environmentally responsible management Final Learning Experience Grading:  90%    Module Assessments (15% each)                10%     Final Learning Experience* *Important Note:  The Final Learning Experience is a written, comprehensive exam.  It will require that the student retains a portfolio of notes from all six modules.