Course syllabus for Sustainable product realisation

Course syllabus adopted 2026-02-19 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameHållbar produktrealisering
  • CodeMEE130
  • Credits15 Credits
  • OwnerTKMSK
  • Education cycleFirst-cycle
  • Main field of studyMechanical Engineering
  • ThemeEnvironment 4.5 c,MTS 2.5 c
  • DepartmentMECHANICAL ENGINEERING
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language Swedish
  • Application code 44127
  • Maximum participants250
  • Minimum participants50
  • Open for exchange studentsNo

Credit distribution

0126 Examination 6 c
Grading: TH		 6 c
0226 Written and oral assignments 1.5 c
Grading: UG		 1.5 c
0326 Project 6 c
Grading: TH		 6 c
0426 Written and oral assignments 1.5 c
Grading: UG		 1.5 c

In programmes

Examiner

Eligibility

General entry requirements for bachelor's level (first cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements

Specific entry requirements

The same as for the programme that owns the course
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements

Course specific prerequisites

The course builds directly on Introduction to Mechanical Engineering. Prior knowledge is recommended in programming (e.g. Python), mathematics (single- and multivariable calculus, linear algebra), computer-aided design (CAD), strength of materials, mechanics (statics and dynamics), materials engineering, and machine elements.

Aim

The purpose of this course is to develop the student's theoretical understanding and practical skills in creating a sustainability-based product solution with a realistic production plan. This involves following a comprehensive product development process, from identifying needs and customer value to idea generation and final production planning. The course applies theory to industry-based projects, through project group work. The course aims to both broaden and deepen the student's knowledge in engineering methodology and Computer-Aided Design (CAD), integrating these with key subjects such as sustainable product development and sustainable production.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

Knowledge and understanding
On successful completion of the course, the student shall be able to:
• explain the concept of customer value and its components
• identify, describe, and analyse functional requirements and overall requirements with regard to stakeholder needs and requirements for resource-efficient and sustainable solutions
• explain the significance of material selection for function, form, environmental impact, and manufacturing process throughout the entire product life cycle
• describe and estimate the economic, social, and ecological consequences of product development and redesigns
• describe and explain strategies, methods, and tools for computer-aided mechanical design, including trade-offs between different design alternatives and their applications in CAD environments
• identify ethical problems and dilemmas in mechanical engineering contexts and reflect on human impact on climate and ecosystems

Skills and abilities
• search for, collect, and compile relevant scientific and technical information and formulate problem statements for product development projects
• develop and use customer value as a tool to drive product development
• be able to define, evaluate, weigh together, and prioritise requirements based on circularity and sustainability aspects (economic, ecological, and social)
• apply methods for material selection with insight of the choice for interaction between function/form, material properties, and manufacturing process, as well as the product’s behaviour and environmental impact during its lifetime
• compare, analyse, and evaluate different product proposals with regard to function, environmental impact, manufacturing/production and economics, and other circularity and sustainability aspects
• assess consequences of different design and production alternatives with regard to circular principles and develop solution proposals
• apply methods and tools for functional analysis, sustainability analysis, simulation, prototyping-and evaluation, and production simulation
• use the digital product presentation as a basis when carrying out, for the project, appropriate simulations and analyses
• describe and exemplify basic technical drawing concepts such as view placement, sections, dimensioning, dimensional tolerances, geometric tolerances
• create simpler dimensioned and tolerance-specified drawings
• communicate technical and sustainability-related results clearly both orally and in writing, including the use of graphs, images, prototypes, and simulations
• lead and participate in project groups, formulate and solve open problems, and analyse group dynamics from an inclusive perspective

Judgement and approach
• take ethical, social, and environmental aspects into account in the development of product and production systems and promote an inclusive and sustainable way of working
• make ethical assessments and reflect on the social, ecological, and economic consequences of product development decisions
• critically evaluate different design and production alternatives based on circular sustainability principles and justify their choices in relation to sustainable development
• reason about how technical drawing understanding and structured working methodology contribute to developing functional designs
• demonstrate the ability to critically review and evaluate new knowledge and its relevance for practical application within mechanical engineering, as well as development and research

Content

The global manufacturing industry faces significant challenges such as resource shortages, skills supply, rapid technological development, and increasing international competition. At the same time, manufacturing plays a central role in the transition towards a more sustainable society. The purpose of the course is therefore to develop the ability to create a sustainability-based product solution with a realistic production plan, following a product development process from needs and customer value through idea generation to production planning. The course also develops assessment skills with regard to relevant scientific, societal, and ethical aspects.

In this course, Sustainable Product Realisation refers to: the development and preparatory industrialisation of products in a way that integrates environmental, social, and economic sustainability throughout the entire life cycle, from material selection and design to manufacturing, use, and reuse.

The course credits are distributed across five main subject areas: product development (5.5 credits), sustainable product development (4.5 credits), digital product presentations and technical drawing (2.5 credits), sustainable production systems (2.0 credits), and ethics and communication (0.5 credits). All course areas are applied in the project, and an equal proportion of the course components is assessed through the project work and the written examination.

The course combines theory with practical application through industry-related projects that include a study visit. The projects are carried out in groups and are structured according to the different phases of the course: needs analysis, customer value analysis, design strategies for sustainability, functional analysis, concept development, simulation and prototype development, production simulation, and evaluation. Within the project groups, students analyse and solve specific industry-relevant challenges related to circular product solutions. After completing the course, the student shall, among other things, be able to apply methods and tools for functional analysis, sustainability analysis, simulation, prototyping, and production simulation.

Organisation

A large part of the course consists of an industry-relevant project carried out as group work. The project is presented both orally and in written form.The theoretical learning is supported through practical workshops and reflective seminars, exercises, assignments, and study visits in line with the CDIO principles (Conceive–Design–Implement–Operate). Digital product presentation and production simulation are practised through exercises in a computer lab.The course is delivered by a teaching team and runs over two study periods, with an individual written examination and a group-based project presentation, and two individual assignments.

Literature

On the course Canvas page:
  • Course PM
  • Power Points from lectures, workshops, and exercises
  • Scientific articles
  • Book chapters from e-books:
For example:
  • T Ulrich, K., & D Eppinger, S. (2020, June). Product Design and Development Seventh Edition. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data: https://chalmers.skillport.com/skillportfe/main.action?assetid=155248
  • Faludi J, editor. Sustainable Design from Vision to Action. Taylor & Francis; 2025 Aug 22. https://go.openathens.net/redirector/chalmers.se?url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781003504672
Clarification on literature, will be provided no later than 12 weeks before the course starts.

Examination including compulsory elements

Students are examined through project assignments (report and accounting), submissions (CAD, drawing techniques and production simulation) and knowledge tests. Students must pass all assessment tasks individually, i.e. pass the project report, project presenmtation, project assignments, and knowledge tests, to be approved for the course.
The grades are individual and the grading scale is: Fail (U), 3, 4 and 5.

SP3:
Exam 6 credits
Submission 1.5 credits

SP4:
Project 6.0 credits
Submission 1.5 credits

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers about disability study support.