Mechanical Engineering - Industrial Economics and Production (180 credits)

Job opportunities and the future

In Industrial Economics and Production students not only obtain good levels of knowledge within engineering, they also gain insight into how companies and organisations plan and control their operations. Graduates may work in a managerial or coordinator role, for example within various industrial operations or engineering companies. Jobs could include personnel management, marketing, sales, rationalisation of production manufacturing, flows and transport, market analyses or quality improvement.

The programme

This programme combines a traditional engineering course with marketing, logistics, business studies, law and quality. Students will participate in projects both as team member and project manager. In Year 1 students cover basic engineering subjects such as Mathematics, IT, Engineering Methods, Materials and Production. In year 2 students learn about how production processes, flows and logistics collaborate with other processes in the company. Links to management, economics and market are studied. Students also take courses in Industrial Marketing, Quality Assurance and Production Systems.

In Year 3 students are afforded considerable opportunities to create their own profile by specialising within, for example, production or quality.

The programme is concluded with a degree project of about 10 weeks duration. On graduation there are many opportunities - students may choose to begin working or continue their studies with a one or two-year Master programme or a Master of Science programme in Sweden or abroad.

Year 1

The overall objective of this course is to provide insight into the educational area, what it means to work as an engineer as well as knowledge on engineering working methods. Students will learn about group dynamics, presentation techniques and be given a first introduction on how to work practically in a project-oriented manner.

The Materials and Production course brings knowledge on construction material and production methods within industry, as well as the connection between choice of materials and choice of production methods taking financial and environmental aspects into consideration. This knowledge will then be utilised in the following course.

This course provides students with further knowledge of construction materials and production methods. Their knowledge is then applied in a project in which students solve a problem within the fields of material and production engineering.

Computer-based Design Tools provides basic knowledge on, and skills in, the use of a modern solid modelling tool (3D-CAD). In addition tools for presenting and visualising products and concepts are introduced.

The course Mathematics I provides the necessary knowledge of mathematical analysis and algebra for the other courses in the programme

This course will provide basic knowledge on the laws of mechanics plus solid mechanics and the opportunity to apply these to practical problems.

The Programming course brings basic knowledge on how problems are restructured into sub-problems, insights into a commercial programming language plus training in how to transform problems into programming code.

This course covers basic traditional company finances, organisational theory, calculations, financing, accounting and marketing.

Year 2

In Applied Mathematics, students learn to transform simple dynamics problems into differential equations and solve them manually or using mathematics programmes. This course also provides the basics within statistics and probability theory.

Industrial Marketing provides basic knowledge on micro economic and market economic concepts as well as a theoretical basis for the structure of marketing functions. Different marketing strategies, models and tools are reviewed and students establish a marketing plan for an industrial product.

In Construction and Energy Engineering knowledge of the fundamental laws of hydromechanics and how to analyse problems and dimension common types of mechanical elements are covered.

The Production Manufacturing continuation course brings knowledge within the manufacturing and assembly adaptation of products. Students also learn to select manufacturing and assembly methods for products taking quality requirements and manufacturing economics into consideration

The overall objective of this course is to provide a broad approach to sustainable development and its application in the professional role of the engineer. Focus is on the threats and opportunities the world's lifestyle and technical development may exert on sustainable development. Knowledge is also applied in a project.

This course provides the preconditions for utilising electrical engineering and opportunities to apply digital engineering, control engineering and microprocessors in integrated mechanical systems. The course also provides knowledge on control principles and components used within mechanical application areas.

The importance of personal and professional development in the professional operational role is emphasised here. This is vital as the engineers of the future also need knowledge within areas other than the merely technical.

Quality Assurance provides knowledge of the structure and use of a quality assurance system, e.g. ISO 9001, plus knowledge on how new working methods can be introduced into a workplace. This concerns the organisational characteristics and plans and resources necessary for successful implementation of change.

Year 3

In Year 3 there is one compulsory course, Calculations and Decision Models (7.5 credits), so that students know how to set up and solve several different types of calculations, for example contribution calculations, cost distribution calculations, ABC calculations and investment calculations and decision models in the form of e.g. linear programming and decision matrices.

students have the opportunity for in-depth studies in the areas they find interesting. Currently KTH is offering established specialisations including elective courses such as Logistics, Advanced Course in Production Engineering, Law for Engineers etc. however students may also select courses within other areas although at least three courses (37.5 credits) must be studied within the specialisation.

The Programme is concluded with a degree project of 15 credits.

Elective courses within the specialisation:

Logistics (7.5 credits) provides basic knowledge of the structure of logistics systems, delivery service and distribution, warehousing and stock control plus materials and production control.

Management (7.5 credits) describes the basic tools for successful management/leadership within different organisations. Students study management, group development, personal development, ethics and morals, globalisation, change and the future – leading operational improvements.

Accounting and Entrepreneurship (7.5 credits) brings knowledge of modern accounting and practical knowledge as concerns starting up and running companies, Law for Engineers (7.5 credits) provides elementary knowledge within areas useful to engineers such as the Swedish legal system and an orientation on regulations of importance to organisations, operations and the context in which industrial companies exist.

Degree project

The programme is concluded with a degree project of 15 credits (equivalent of approximately 10 weeks of study). Normally students carry out their degree projects in pairs. The aim is for students to use and demonstrate the knowledge and skills they have acquired during their studies. This requires the students to be able to use good engineering practices and also to be able to report on their work in a professional manner. Students are themselves responsible for identifying suitable degree projects. The aim is that they carry out this project within business/industry or in the public sector. Students are afforded the opportunity to make valuable contacts and build up a network to use in their future professional careers. The degree project is generally experienced as fun as well as stimulating and brings many challenges and high level quality requirements from both the School and the employer. A good degree project provides the preconditions for success as an engineer.

Continued studies

Graduates enjoy several opportunities for continued studies. They may choose to continue their studies on a one or two-year Master programme (60-120 credits) – there are many to choose from at KTH. These are taught through the medium of English and are open to international students which enables exciting international contacts. Students may also choose to apply to join the final two years of a Master of Science in Engineering programme within the same or a closely-related engineering field (often this requires additional courses in order to qualify). Contact a student counsellor for more information. These courses normally cover 120-150 credits (2-2.5 years of study).