Project: Predictive Maintenance Optimisation Using Machine Learning and Simulation Modelling Techniques

Aim:

MSc project is about solving a problem (engineering a solution for a problem), which usually includes: researching the state-of-art of the subject; studying/investigating (e.g. by experimentation, simulation, modelling) the existing solution; devising (and implementing) the solution; testing and evaluating the suggested solution..

Learning outcome 1: Plan and manage a substantive individual project activity with the breadth, scope and discrimination appropriate to a Master of Science award with time, technical and resource constraints.

Learning outcome 2: Investigate new and emerging technologies by research and experiments, and appraise current practice limitations and new development.

Learning outcome 3: Apply mathematical or technical skills for identifying problems, designing, implementing, testing and critically evaluating solutions in engineering

Learning outcome 4: Evaluate and reflect on the scientific, commercial or industrial context of the project, and reflect on the need for a high level of professional and ethical conduct in engineering.

Learning outcome 5: Professionally use of technical literature and other information sources and formally report the progress and results of the project, orally and in writing.

PROJECT SELECTION AND ALLOCATION

Selecting the project is the responsibility of students. However, they must receive support from staff. The project topic must be compatible with the area of the study. In selecting the project topic, the student has to take into account their interest, ambition, strengths and weaknesses. Students can either suggest their own idea for a project or can carry out a project offered by a supervisor within the School of Mechanical and Design Engineering.

PROJECT PROPOSAL
Students, in conjunction with their supervisor, must develop and/or amend a project proposal using the online Project Proposal

Background/Introduction
The short introduction answers the question WHY the project has been proposed. It gives background of the existing product or practice, disadvantages and problems and should generate a need to carry out the project.

Aims and Objectives
This section logically follows and answers the question, WHAT is intended to be done to successfully execute the project?
It should include four to six specific points indicating expected achievements at the end of the project. Ideally, the proposal should have a clear single project AIM and concisely developed or proposed objectives of how the aim is going to be met.

Plan/Timescale - Student Proposed Project
The timescale answers the questions, HOW (literature survey, experimental work) and WHEN? Specific tasks necessary for the successful completion of the project are listed and the time for their execution indicated. Gantt chart might be attached to the form. It is advised to all students, irrespective if it is their proposed project or staff defined one, to create a Gantt chart with clearly indicated tasks and timescales.

Resources and Specific Requirements
All key resources that will be required for the successful completion of the projects should be listed. Further information is provided in Section 5.

Ethics Clearance Certification
All students working on Individual Project should complete the online ethical review (https://ethicsreview.port.ac.uk). Please upload signed PDF certificate on Moodle for safekeeping. The certificate should be included in the student's final report. Electronic supervisor's signature on the certificate is sufficient.

Ideally, student and supervisor would apply for the certificate together. Students should discuss the results of the review with their project supervisor. The supervisor should be able to give advice on any ethical considerations related to the project. Once these considerations have been discussed and any further paperwork has been prepared and agreed, the project supervisor should then sign the certificate in the box marked ‘Supervisor Review'. Electronic signature is sufficient

If a box marked ‘Review by FEC Representative' appears, then the form will need to be signed by the FEC representative (Dr Tewkesbury), and may need to go to the Faculty Ethics committee for a full review. Projects that have triggered this fall into two categories:

Projects that involve only a questionnaire, where the target group are adults, professional people or companies, which are able to give informed consent. In this case, a Participant Information Sheet or similar statement explaining the project and use of the data is sufficient. Where there are possible issues of embarrassment or legal issues, maintaining the anonymity of the participant may be appropriate and a higher level confidentiality may be required. There are some issues associated with whether individuals are giving their own consent or their companies, and the Participant Information Sheet should be clear on this point.

FINAL PROJECT REPORT

Report Structure
The report is not just a record of the work done. On the basis of the completed investigation, the author (investigator) forms an opinion and has something to say, some recommendations to make, a solution to offer. This forms the 'Conclusions' section of the report and is closely linked to the original objectives. There could be a deviation from the original objectives because a different and better line of investigation emerged during the project. This should be reflected in the Interim Report and Conclusions. The conclusions must be credible, not just presented without any backup. That is why they must be fully supported by the evidence in the report.
Students have some experience in writing reports but they have much more experience in reading and learning from written material. When writing the report students should think about the reader, consider what they want to say and if the message is conveyed effectively. Excessive information, which interrupts the report flow, should go into Appendices. However, discussing in the main report a figure which is in the appendix makes it very difficult to follow the logic. In general, repeated graphs without explanation and tables of results should go into appendices. They are unlikely to be needed by the reader.
Readers cannot be expected to study the presented material and formulate conclusions. They must be led by the author and follow their logic. After reading the report, they decide if the presented view is credible or not, if the reader is not convinced the author has not achieved his/her aim. Information should be presented in a logical manner to aid understanding of the topic. It should not just be a diary of a student's activities.

EXAMPLE OF THE REPORT STRUCTURE

TITLE PAGE
(Title, full name of student, degree that it contributes towards, month and year of submission, name of supervisor. No Page numbers! - TEMPLATE is provided on MOODLE)
DECLARATION OF ORIGINALITY (Template is provided on Moodle)
SUMMARY (or Abstract, not more than 1 A4 page) i
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ii
CONTENT iii
(The content lists should list what the report contains all sections, list of figures, list of tables, abbreviations etc. should be separate tables. Page numbering begins with Section 1)
INTRODUCTION (background, motivation for the project) 1
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES (clear, concise and precise, CAN be a part of INTRODUCTION) 2
LITERATURE REVIEW/ BACKGROUND / RESEARCH xx
(Chapter headings and subheadings must be meaningful and must correspond to the content)
METHODOLOGY / EXPERIMENTS xx
RESULTS / FINDINGS xx
DISCUSSION xx
(Chapter headings and subheadings must be meaningful and must correspond to the content) NOTE:
Results and Discussion can be a joined Chapter.
PROJECT EVALUATION: Conclusions and Recommendations for future work xx
(Were the aim/objectives met? What is the outcome, etc.? Should not introduce new information)

REFERENCES (Identified when discussed in the text as explained below)

LIST OF ACHIEVEMENTS

APPENDICES (Only if required)