Packaging Technology Management MSc

About the Course

It is the aim of this course to produce high-calibre packaging technologists and managers who have the vision and flexibility to create opportunities and to solve problems effectively.

The course is relevant to a wide range of industries including: packaging designers; raw materials producers; packaging converters and printers; product manufacturers; packaging machine suppliers; and retailers. You will benefit from this course if you are involved in the design, manufacture, specification or use of packaging.

See what our students say about this course.

See the course brochure (pdf). 

Aims

Becoming a student on the course provides you with:

• an opportunity to obtain a higher degree whilst pursuing a career;
• enhanced technical and managerial skills;
• contact with students from all sectors of the industry and the opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences;
• the potential for accelerated career development;
• the vision to choose the most effective packaging solutions.

There are clear benefits to your company too. Active involvement can:

• realise employees' full potential for contributing to the business;
• raise the technical and managerial skill levels within the company;
• help with the recruitment and retention of high-calibre personnel;
• provide cost-effective access to University research facilities.

Enquiries

Initial enquiries to:

Marketing and Recruitment Officer
School of Engineering and Design
Email sed-pg-admissions@brunel.ac.uk
Tel +44 (0)1895 265814/266633

Course Director: Dr Richard Bateman

Related Courses

• Design and Branding Strategy MA
• Advanced Manufacturing Systems MSc

Special Features

This MSc programme is iMechE accredited for the 2007 - 2013 intakes for CEng requirements.

Accreditation

Packaging Technology Management is accredited by both the Institution of Mechanical Engineering (IMechE) and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). This will provide a route to Chartered Engineer status in the UK.

Course Content

Mode of study

1 Year Full-Time The taught element of the course (September to April) includes eight modules; delivery will be by a combination of lectures, tutorials and group/seminar work. A further four months (May to September) is spent undertaking the dissertation.

3-5 Years Distance Learning The distance learning programme is designed to enable you to conduct most of your studies at home, in your own time and at your own pace. There is no requirement to attend lectures at Brunel University; instead you follow a structured programme of self-study at home or at work.

You are supplied with a study pack supported by eLearning web based lecture materials. You can take between 3 and 5 years to complete the course, it is entirely up to you how long you take but usually the minimum is 3 years, with you taking four modules in the first year, four modules in the second year and the dissertation in the third year. However, depending on your other commitments you can take longer up to a maximum of 5 years.

Assessment is by a combination of assignments and examinations. Examinations can be taken either at Brunel University or in the country you are resident in. We have an extensive network of organisations (universities, colleges and British Council Offices) throughout the world that will provide invigilation services. The cost of invigilation away from Brunel is your responsibility. The exams are held in May and September each year.

Typical Modules

The course is made up of eight study modules and a project.

Please note you can undertake any individual module without committing to the whole programme and these modules can be credited to either an MSc or a Postgraduate Diploma.

All the material you require will be provided in the form of a 'study pack'. This consists of written text, computer software, videos and other materials appropriate for each element of the programme. The written texts contain questions to test your understanding and aid recall. Notes and solutions to these questions are provided.

Compulsory modules

• Overview of Packaging: This module provides you with an overview of the packaging industry and acts as an introduction to the whole course. You are taken through the supply chain which runs from raw materials through packaging converters, packaging users, retailers and product users, to the final disposal of the packaging. This chain involves many activities such as design, choice of material, manufacturing, retailing and distribution, all of which are covered in greater depth in subsequent modules. A significant part of the module focuses on the basic science of materials and lays the foundation for subsequent technical modules. This allows you and your fellow students to reach a similar level of understanding of the materials science related to the four major groups of packaging materials: plastics, metals, glass, paper and board.
  
  
• Polymer Packaging: This module focuses on polymers in packaging. You will study the main processing routes: injection moulding; extrusion; thermoforming; coatings; film and bottle production. We will cover a number of characterisation techniques such as FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) and light/electron microscopy to determine the properties and performance of the packaging components. Characterisation of materials is important for a number of reasons and is used in: The design and testing of new packs; Evaluation of new and competing materials; Monitoring of packaging production; Forensic analysis, to study "What went wrong?". We also look at new developments in polymers such as water solubility, biodegradability and nanotechnology. We will investigate environmental and legal legislation relating to polymers as these are often country dependent.
  
  
• Packaging Design: This module introduces you to the principles and criteria to be considered in good packaging design. Many of these criteria are drawn from the needs of the distribution and retailing chains and these are considered in some depth. You are made aware of the conflicts in finding a practical solution to a packaging design problem: cost reduction, differentiation, barrier requirements, environmental issues, ergonomics, and ‘user friendliness’. The needs of distributors are considered: palletisation, transportation, automatic warehousing, and bar coding. This module also includes a comprehensive analysis of the major printing and decoration techniques for packaging.
  
  
• Manufacturing Systems, Design and Economics: This module looks at advanced aspects of (a) Manufacturing Processes including description, analysis and classification of basic manufacturing processes; process capabilities, recent advances and developments, assembly systems, automation, robotics and CNC machines, CAD/CAM application, (b) Production Operations including Plant layout, Group Technology, Cellular Manufacturing and Flexible Manufacturing Systems. Lean manufacturing techniques, Kaizen, KANBAN, JIT, 5S, seven wastes, Poke Yoke, Value Chain, supply chain management and outsourcing and design reuse. Inventory control and MRP, and quality control. (c) Design for Manufacture and Process selection: including the relationship between design features and process capabilities, manufacturing system selection to produce a given design and (d) Economics for Manufacture: including Inventory Costing, Economic Order Quantities, Costing machine tool selection and cost of production strategy.
  
  
• Quality Management and Reliability: This module aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the principles of modern quality assurance which underpin the discipline, and their applications in engineering, manufacturing and enterprises. Topics covered include the history and nature of quality management; views of the gurus and ISO 9000; problem solving tools; Benchmarking; Quality function deployment; Poka Yoke; Statistical process control; Failure modes and effects analysis; Significance testing; Design of experiments and Taguchi methods. The module also aims to provide a professional working knowledge of the reliability engineering techniques that the students can apply to improve the maintenance, the maintainability and the safety of an industrial plant. The module also seeks to explain the purpose of maintenance within an organisation and to review the development of its principles and techniques, thus enabling the students to develop a structured strategy for maintaining complex industrial plant.
  
  
• Metal, Glass, Paper and Board: This module covers the processing and production of metallic packaging using steel, tinplate and aluminium. We look at the various pack formats and how the packaging interacts with the pack contents. Corrosion is an important aspect and can limit the use of metals packaging. Glass and papers and board are given a similar treatment. We look at glass bottles, jars and vials. For papers and board, we study fibreboard, cartons, corrugated cardboard, tubes and labels. In all cases, we look at the suitability of the packaging materials for purpose. Are they the best? As with Polymer Packaging we look at characterisation techniques and consider environmental and legal issues.
  
  
• Dissertation: Following the taught part of the programme and reflecting individual interests, the dissertation is an in-depth study of a manufacturing problem or situation, requiring a high standard of investigation and presentation. The analysis of a ‘real’ problem is expected, frequently involving a company or workplace. Close liaison between the University, the student and, where appropriate, the company is essential when selecting a topic which has a suitable academic content and an appropriate scope, relevance and timescale. Some students may wish their dissertations to be considered by the Chartered Engineering Institutions to satisfy requirements for corporate membership. In this case, a further set of criteria will have to be satisfied and you should contact the appropriate institute on the best way to proceed.
  

Optional modules (2 modules)

• Managing People and Organisations: Main topics of study: nature of organisations and their development and effectiveness; the role of the engineering manager and the contingency theory of management; the nature and strategic role of human resource management; developments in management theory for business performance management; learning organisations and the role of innovation; managing innovation including organisational culture in a global business environment; motivation and managing high performing teams; managing change and designing organisations that support creativity and innovation.
  
  
• Project Management: This module aims to give you a comprehensive understanding and critical awareness of the latest advanced techniques and strategies for Project Management, including management tools, management and reporting methods and team building. Opportunities are provided to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in these areas. A number of specific areas are covered including contract law and health and safety. The module ends with project auditing to establish performance and project closure.
  
  
• Branding Strategy Studies
  
  
• Computer Aided Engineering 1: In this module students will be taught (a) how to constitute entities of physical object, points, edges, surfaces and solids which are modelled for CAE, and the skills to implement them using a contemporary CAE software to create a computer model of a part, or assembly [Pro/Engineer, CATIA, Solidworks), (b) theory and some useful applications of computer models in mechanism synthesis and analysis using a contemporary CAE packages [MATLAB, SIMULINK]
  
  
• Financial Management: The module content will include the nature and strategic role of Financial Management including sources of finance. The flow of money: cash flow cycle, measures of liquidity, working capital. Financial feasibility: breakeven analysis; contribution; sensitivity analysis. Principal financial statements: key definitions; structure and layouts. Operating performance: relationships between the balance sheet and P&L account; key ratios. Investment appraisal: principles and techniques. Financial analysis: key concepts and ratios. Business Planning based on resource and cost estimation

Assessment

Assessment is through a mixture of coursework and examinations. Modules 1-6 have a 50/50 split between the two and Module 7 is assessed by coursework whilst Module 8 by an examination.

The assessment will be exactly the same as for the part-time students. You will need to submit assignments and take examinations at the same time as the part-time students.

If you live outside the UK you will be able to take the examinations in your own country. We have an extensive network of organisations (Universities, Colleges and British Council Offices) throughout the world who will provide invigilation services. If we haven't a contact near you we can help you find one. The cost of invigilation away from Brunel University is your responsibility.

Careers

Graduates typically work as engineers, technologists and managers in the sectors of packaging materials; packaging for FMCG and retail, cosmetics, food and drink; converted products packaging; packaging supply chain and distribution; and packaging design.

Fees for 2013/14 entry

UK/EU students: £5,800 full-time

International students: £15,000 full-time

Distance learning students (per 15 credit module): £670 Home/EU, £670 Overseas

Read about funding opportunities available to postgraduate students.

Fees quoted are per annum and are subject to an annual increase.

Entry Requirements

A UK first or second class Honours degree or equivalent internationally recognised qualification or HND or Diploma of Institute of Packaging with relevant experience. The course is designed to accommodate students from a broad spectrum of backgrounds. Other qualifications and relevant experience will be assessed on an individual basis.

English Language Requirements

Brunel also offers our own BrunELT English Test and accept a range of other language courses. We also have a range of Pre-sessional English language courses, for students who do not meet these requirements, or who wish to improve their English.