Global Product Development and Management – (M.Sc.)

Suitable for mid-career professionals and ambitious international students wishing to boost their career prospects in the global market.

Takes you on to a range of international leadership positions in globalised organisations. Graduates will be equipped to manage integrated international projects and teams to successfully address the challenges of global product development and management.

You will be taught by experts from Cranfield University supported by international lecturers from leading universities such as Stanford (US), KAIST (Korea),TU Berlin (Germany), NUS (Singapore), with a strong background in distributed product development.

Course description

The world is becoming increasingly connected, raising many challenges in terms of organisational management, product development and cross-border collaboration. Global product development is a new way of thinking that aims to utilise and manage the power of the global market to design and manufacture intelligent, sustainable and internationally competitive products.

This prestigious course develops highly employable leaders able to respond to the challenges and demands of modern globalised markets. Students are introduced to cutting-edge technologies for worldwide product development and management, including concept creation and creativity for practical product engineering.

Students are able to apply their skills in a hands-on mini project that culminates in the physical generation of a real industrial product.

Students benefit from use of state-of-the-art software and technical equipment such as a rapid prototyping machine, and access to a real-world global production environment through supporting industrial partners.

Students undertake a carefully integrated and structured series of eight one-week assessed modules, a group project and an individual project.

Group project

The major learning experience for full-time students is the group project. This involves students working in teams to fulfil demanding objectives within a tight timescale, applying state-of-the-art technologies and approaches and delivering results to a high professional standard. Projects are industrially orientated and have the support of external organisations. Experience gained is highly valued by both students and prospective employers. For part-time students a dissertation usually replaces the group project.

Individual project

Either industrially or academically driven, students select the individual project in consultation with the Course Director. It provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to carry out independent research, think and work in an original way, contribute to knowledge, and overcome genuine manufacturing problems. Many of the projects are supported by external organisations.

Modules:

Compulsory modules

Concept Development and Prototyping
Enterprise Systems
Use of Novel Materials and Manufacturing Techniques
Cost Engineering
General Management
Product Development

Optional modules (two to be selected)

Design-driven Innovation
Information Management
Product Lifecycle Management
Product Quality Control and Optimisation