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Master'sDesign, HMI & Product Applications open

Master’s in DfM/DfA/DfC and Cost Engineering

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in DfM/DfA/DfC and cost engineering. 12 modules covering design for machining, moulding, casting and sheet metal, design for assembly, tolerances and variation, design to cost, should-cost estimation, quality, circularity and industrialisation, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration12–14 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Integrate manufacturing, assembly and cost criteria from the design stage.

02

Optimise parts for machining, injection moulding, casting and sheet metal.

03

Reduce part count and assembly times with DFA methodologies.

04

Analyse tolerances and dimensional variation.

05

Estimate product costs with should-cost models.

06

Apply ecodesign and life cycle assessment.

07

Plan the industrialisation of new products.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Cost engineers who want deeper manufacturing knowledge.
  • DfM/DfA engineers.
  • Product engineers responsible for cost and manufacturability.
  • Industrialisation engineers.
  • Value analysts.
  • Technical purchasing engineers.
  • Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter the automotive industry.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • ISO 1101 (geometrical tolerancing)
  • ISO 8015 (GPS fundamental concepts and rules)
  • ASME Y14.5 (dimensioning and tolerancing)
  • IATF 16949 (automotive quality management)
  • ISO 14040 (life cycle assessment)
  • Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 (ecodesign for sustainable products)
  • VDI 2235 (economic decisions in design)
  • AIAG-VDA FMEA Handbook (failure mode and effects analysis)
  • aPriori
  • Boothroyd Dewhurst DFMA
  • Autodesk Moldflow
  • 3DCS Variation Analyst
  • SolidWorks
Syllabus

12 modules

  1. 1.1Cost committed at the design stage
  2. 1.2Concurrent engineering
  3. 1.3Design for Excellence (DfX)
  4. 1.4The relationship between design, manufacturing and assembly
  5. 1.5Integration with the development process
  6. 1.6Multidisciplinary teams
  7. 1.7Design indicators
  8. 1.8Early evaluation tools
  9. 1.9Lessons from failed products
  10. 1.10Case study: DfX analysis of a household appliance
  1. 2.1Material removal processes
  2. 2.2Achievable tolerances and finishes
  3. 2.3Geometries that are economical to machine
  4. 2.4Tool accessibility
  5. 2.5Number of set-ups
  6. 2.6Materials and machinability
  7. 2.7Threads, holes and radii
  8. 2.8Cost per machined part
  9. 2.9Standardisation of features
  10. 2.10Practical exercise: redesigning a part to reduce set-ups
  1. 3.1Uniform wall thickness
  2. 3.2Draft angles
  3. 3.3Ribs, bosses and sink marks
  4. 3.4Gates and weld lines
  5. 3.5Undercuts and slides
  6. 3.6Simulation with Moldflow
  7. 3.7Aluminium die casting
  8. 3.8Sand and investment casting
  9. 3.9Mould cost and amortisation
  10. 3.10Lab: fill analysis of a housing
  1. 4.1Bending and minimum radii
  2. 4.2Deep drawing and forming
  3. 4.3Laser cutting and punching
  4. 4.4Flat pattern design
  5. 4.5Welding and accessibility
  6. 4.6Mechanical joints and clinching
  7. 4.7Structural adhesives
  8. 4.8Additive manufacturing and DfAM
  9. 4.9Process comparison
  10. 4.10Practical exercise: optimised sheet metal bracket
  1. 5.1Boothroyd-Dewhurst methodology
  2. 5.2Part count reduction
  3. 5.3Assembly efficiency
  4. 5.4Handling and insertion
  5. 5.5Self-locating features
  6. 5.6Snap-fit joints
  7. 5.7Automated and robotic assembly
  8. 5.8Poka-yoke in design
  9. 5.9Assembly times with MTM
  10. 5.10Lab: DFA analysis of a subassembly
  1. 6.1GD&T according to ISO GPS
  2. 6.2Tolerance stack-ups
  3. 6.3Worst-case and statistical analysis
  4. 6.4Monte Carlo variation simulation
  5. 6.5Process capability Cp and Cpk
  6. 6.6Optimal tolerance allocation
  7. 6.7Datums and assembly references
  8. 6.83DCS tools
  9. 6.9Cost of tolerance
  10. 6.10Case study: tolerance stack-up of an assembly
  1. 7.1Target costing
  2. 7.2Product cost breakdown
  3. 7.3Direct and indirect costs
  4. 7.4Parametric cost models
  5. 7.5Material cost and yield
  6. 7.6Process and machine cost
  7. 7.7Quality and warranty costs
  8. 7.8Life cycle cost
  9. 7.9Value analysis and VA/VE
  10. 7.10Workshop: value engineering session
  1. 8.1Should-cost and bottom-up estimation
  2. 8.2aPriori and Siemens Teamcenter Product Cost Management tools
  3. 8.3Benchmarking and teardown
  4. 8.4Technical negotiation with suppliers
  5. 8.5Make or buy
  6. 8.6Logistics and location costs
  7. 8.7Raw material indices
  8. 8.8Costing in quotations and RFQs
  9. 8.9Rate databases
  10. 8.10Practical exercise: should-cost of an injection-moulded part
  1. 9.1Design and process FMEA
  2. 9.2Control plan
  3. 9.3APQP and PPAP
  4. 9.4Taguchi robust design
  5. 9.5Design of experiments
  6. 9.6Reliability and service life
  7. 9.7Validation testing
  8. 9.8Continuous improvement
  9. 9.9Cost of poor quality
  10. 9.10Case study: design FMEA of a connector
  1. 10.1Design for disassembly
  2. 10.2Design for recycling
  3. 10.3Selection of sustainable materials
  4. 10.4Life cycle assessment ISO 14040
  5. 10.5Product carbon footprint
  6. 10.6Ecodesign Regulation (EU) 2024/1781
  7. 10.7Repairability
  8. 10.8Remanufacturing
  9. 10.9Environmental cost
  10. 10.10Lab: LCA comparison of two designs
  1. 11.1Production ramp-up
  2. 11.2Tooling validation
  3. 11.3Engineering change management
  4. 11.4Transfer to the plant
  5. 11.5Supplier management
  6. 11.6Launch indicators
  7. 11.7Lean product development
  8. 11.8Industrialisation project management
  9. 11.9Lessons learned
  10. 11.10Practical exercise: industrialisation plan for a product
  1. 12.1Product selection
  2. 12.2Analysis of the current design
  3. 12.3DfM proposals
  4. 12.4DfA proposals
  5. 12.5Tolerance analysis
  6. 12.6Cost model
  7. 12.7Sustainability assessment
  8. 12.8Implementation plan
  9. 12.9Thesis report
  10. 12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so you can combine the programme with your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is aPriori, Boothroyd Dewhurst DFMA, Autodesk Moldflow, 3DCS Variation Analyst and SolidWorks, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied on real procedures for DFA analysis of assemblies, should-cost estimates with suppliers and tolerance simulations. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: ISO 1101, ISO 8015, ASME Y14.5, IATF 16949, ISO 14040, Regulation (EU) 2024/1781, VDI 2235, AIAG-VDA FMEA Handbook.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of ISO 1101, ISO 8015 and ASME Y14.5 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:aPriori, Boothroyd Dewhurst DFMA, Autodesk Moldflow, 3DCS Variation Analyst and SolidWorks, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:a complete product redesign with DfM and DfA proposals, tolerance analysis, cost model and implementation plan, defended before a panel.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Design analysis
Select a product and analyse its current design from a DfX perspective.
DfM and DfA proposals
Redesign parts for manufacturing and reduce part count with DFA analysis.
Tolerance analysis
Model the tolerance stack-up and allocate tolerances optimally.
Cost and sustainability
Build a should-cost model and compare the life cycle assessment of both designs.
Master's Thesis
Present the full redesign with its implementation plan, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Cost engineerDfM/DfA engineerProduct engineerIndustrialisation engineerValue analystTechnical purchasing engineer
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
  • Internet connection and a computer able to run the programme software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

Apply now Scholarships
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with aPriori, Boothroyd Dewhurst DFMA, Autodesk Moldflow, 3DCS Variation Analyst and SolidWorks, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent demonstrable professional experience), a computer able to run the software and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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