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Blekinge Institute of Technology
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Revision: 3
Reg.no: BTH-4.1.14-0192-2023
Course syllabus
Innovative and Sustainable Product Development 1
Innovative and Sustainable Product Development 1
6 credits (6 högskolepoäng)
Course code: MT1556
Main field of study: Mechanical Engineering, Technology
Disciplinary domain: Technology
Education level: First-cycle
Specialization: G2F - First cycle, has at least 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Language of instruction: Teaching is normally given in Swedish, but teaching in English may occur
Applies from: 2023-08-28
Approved: 2023-01-27
1. Descision
This course is established by Dean 2021-11-30. The course syllabus is approved by Head of Department of Mechanical Engineering 2023-01-27 and applies from 2023-08-28.
2. Entry requirements
Admission to the course requires 75 completed credits from an engineering program in mechanical engineering or industrial engineering and management, including a completed course Sustainability Basics, 6 credits.
3. Objective and content
3.1 Objective
The student learns strategies and methods for innovative product development, project management and sustainability in product development. The purpose of the course is also to support the student in learning basic tools to analyze different product alternatives based on the user / customer and environmental requirements.
3.2 Content
Product development process:
• historical development of the product development process
• different theories to describe the product development process
• the work process for product development
Innovation and product development:
• TIPS (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) and functional analysis
• innovative solutions and innovation principles
• various creativity techniques including brainstorming, brainwriting, morphological charts
• database search to find patent solutions to technical problems
• product protection and intellectual property rights (patent, trademark and design protection)
Sustainable product development:
• integration of environmental aspects in companies and in product development
• driving forces / barriers for environmentally sustainable product development
• practice different tools and methods for sustainable product development
Project management:
• how to plan and run projects
• roles of team members, team building and responsibilities in a project
• schedule and financial plan for a project work
4. Learning outcomes
The following learning outcomes are examined in the course:
4.1. Knowledge and understanding
On completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- demonstrate how a product development process can be planned and described
- demonstrate an understanding of the interplay between creativity, logic and systematic problem solving
- explain different types of intellectual property protection
- explain how sustainability principles can be integrated in product development
- demonstrate how product development projects can be planned, lead and executed
4.2. Competence and skills
On completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- suggest the appropriate type of development process for a given scenario
- undertake needs-identification and function-analysis at a basic level
- apply different techniques to find creative, innovative solutions to given problems
- apply basic tools and methods that support the product development process, e.g. in choosing solution alternatives with special consideration of sustainability principles
- identify typical aspects in planning and implementation of different phases and types of project work in group
4.3. Judgement and approach
On completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- assess the requirements and wishes in the process of developing products
- assess different solution alternatives in relation to each other and identified needs
- reflect on the product development process and its outcomes
- relate in a constructive way to given frameworks for assignments and problems
- reflect on their approach to working on projects
5. Learning activities
The teaching is conducted in the form of lectures, exercises, assignments, and project. Students will work in teams on a brief project to apply various lessons learned during the course. The course elements are expected to be completed and reported within given time frames in the course.
6. Assessment and grading
Modes of examinations of the course
| Code | Module | Credit | Grade |
| 2210 | Written assignment 1 | 1 credits | AF |
| 2220 | Written assignment 2 | 1.5 credits | AF |
| 2230 | Written assignment 3 | 2 credits | AF |
| 2240 | Written assignment 4 | 1.5 credits | AF |
The course will be graded A Excellent, B Very good, C Good, D Satisfactory, E Sufficient, Fx Failed result, a little more work required, F Fail.
In the grade FX, in consultation with the course coordinator / examiner, it is possible to supplement the grade to E for the current course component within 6 weeks. The final grade for the course is weighted based on the partial grades for each component. Each part consists of several smaller oral and written parts according to special instructions given at the start of the course. All smaller components need to be approved for approval of the entire component.
The information before the start of the course states the assessment criteria and make explicit in which modes of examination that the learning outcomes are assessed.
An examiner can, after consulting the Disability Advisor at BTH, decide on a customized examination form for a student with a long-term disability to be provided with an examination equivalent to one given to a student who is not disabled.
7. Course evaluation
The course evaluation should be carried out in line with BTH:s course evaluation template and process.
8. Restrictions regarding degree
The course can form part of a degree but not together with another course the content of which completely or partly corresponds with the contents of this course.
9. Course literature and other materials of instruction
Main literature:
Ulrich, K. T., Eppinger, S. D., Yang, M. (2019). Product design and development. McGraw-Hill. ISBN: 9781260566437, or later edition.
Thorpe, A. (2007). The designer's atlas of sustainability. ISBN: 9781597261005, or later edition.
Jansson, T., & Ljung, L. (2017). Project Leadership for Individuals and Teams. Studentlitteratur. ISBN 9789144119588, or later edition. (alternatively Jansson, T. & Ljunug, L. (2017) Individer, grupper och ledarskap i projekt. Studentlitteratur. ISBN: 9789144119588.)
Reference literature:
Cross, N. (2021). Engineering design methods: strategies for product design. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9781119724377
Eklund, S. (2011). Arbeta i projekt : individen, gruppen, ledaren. Studentlitteratur ISBN: 9789144072753, or later edition.
Ottosson, S. (2012). Dynamisk Produktutveckling. Tervix AB. ISBN: 9789163081743
Jönbrink, A. K., Norrblom, H. L., Zackrisson, M. (2011). Ekodesign - praktisk vägledning, Swerea-IVF. ISBN: 978-91-86401-07-8.
Other learning resources: literature distributed during the course.
10. Additional information
This course replaces MT1530