Mechanical Design: Integrated Engineering Practice

Unit code: NEM2004 | Study level: Undergraduate
Credit points
12
(Generally, 1 credit = 10 hours of classes and independent study.)
Location
Footscray Park
Prerequisites
NEM2002 - Mechanical Engineering Design and Optimisation; or
NEM2101 - Mechanical Engineering Design; and
NEM2003 - Applied Stress Analysis and Computational Methods; or
NEM3202 - Fluid Mechanics 2
(Or equivalent to be determined by unit coordinator)
Overview
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Overview

This unit brings together your knowledge of solid mechanics, design, and analysis through a collaborative mechanical engineering project. Working in teams, you will progress through concept development, simulation and evaluation stages to address defined client or community needs.

The unit emphasises systems-based and sustainable design approaches, encouraging resource-efficient and responsible innovation. Project management, teamwork, and leadership are central, strengthening your ability to plan, communicate, and solve problems creatively within realistic constraints. You will develop the professional judgement, collaboration, and technical capability needed to deliver safe, reliable, and human-centred mechanical engineering outcomes that reflect modern industry expectations.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. Integrate knowledge of mechanics, stress analysis, and design to develop feasible mechanical systems that address defined engineering challenges;
  2. Apply structured project planning, scheduling, and documentation techniques to manage design development effectively;
  3. Devise and justify design strategies that balance technical, ethical, and sustainability considerations;
  4. Articulate technical designs clearly, both individually and collaboratively, to diverse audiences through professional reports and annotated drawings; and
  5. Develop and apply a comprehensive risk management plan covering identification, mitigation, and reporting throughout the design process.

Assessment

For Melbourne campuses

Assessment type: Report
|
Grade: 20%
Preliminary concept brief including project scope, design planning, and risk assessment (Group) (2000 words)
Assessment type: Project
|
Grade: 40%
Comprehensive mechanical system design including validated analysis, CAD models, and technical drawings (Group) (3000 words)
Assessment type: Presentation
|
Grade: 40%
Final report with oral presentation and defence of design outcomes (Individual) (10 mins)

Report: Each student's individual contribution to the group assessment will be systematically evaluated and assessed, with consideration given to their specific tasks, responsibilities, and active engagement throughout the collaborative process.

Project: This secure assessment ensures authenticity through documented milestone checks tied to individual students, in-class feedback sessions incorporating process-focused questioning, and verification of contributions. Students deliver a complete engineering design package, demonstrating integrated design and analysis capability.

Presentation: This secure assessment features a submitted individual report and panel-defence oral presentation of the final design, followed by unpredictable Q&A to assess each student’s understanding, reasoning, and ability to justify technical, ethical, and sustainability decisions.

Required reading

Required readings will be made available on VU Collaborate.

As part of a course

This unit is studied as part of the following course(s):

Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Mechanical Engineering)
NHEM | Bachelor honours degree | Duration: 4 years

Refer to the course page for information on how to apply for the course. VU takes care to ensure the accuracy of this unit information, but reserves the right to change or withdraw courses offered at any time. Please check that unit information is current with the Student Contact Centre.

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