The purpose of the course is to give an introduction to the Master's programme (two-year) in Industrial engineering. It gives an overview of the subject as a whole and emphasizes the value of interdisciplinary perspectives, e.g. by integrating relevant topics from the undergraduate level. The course raises awareness about the challenges that engineers in industrial engineering face, and gives the students training in, and understanding of, their role in the development of sustainable companies and a sustainable society. This is achieved through:

– Overview and synthesis of the contents of the courses in the engineering programme Industrial engineering at the basic level through example of current, interdisciplinary research

- Reflection and awareness of current global societal challenges, e.g. connected to UN sustainable development goals

- Engineering methods and processes to handle complexity through a systematic working method

- Training with a systems engineering perspective, communication and understanding complex problems from different perspectives.

After passing the course, the students should be able to:

1. Analyse and discuss current global societal challenges, for example economic, social injustice and environmental impact
2. Analyse and concretize what these challenges imply for engineers that develop technology in a Swedish context and identify tools that can be used in this engineering work
3. Identify and apply concepts, theories and methods in industrial engineering to describe and handle these complex challenges
4. Use a systematic, engineering working method to analyze organizational challenges and suggest how these can be handled.

Learning activities

Lectures will be provided in a mix between live (on zoom) and pre-recorded videos. When possible the lectures will be recorded and published on CANVAS. In the schedule below lectures that in particular is part of preparation of seminars are marked with PREP. Seminars are designed as exercises in groups to provide learning and is the core activity. Assignments linked to the seminar are mainly documentation and summary of the work done and the intention is that most of the assignment can be finalized during the seminar and NOT require extra work after the seminar. Active participation is required for ALL seminars and required for PASS of the corresponding assignments.

Seminars (SEMx) and corresponding assignments (Inl1.x)

Seminars and assignments descriptions

SEM1: You will apply future studies methods for visioning and will start with a timeline exercise of a technical field and its history and identification of critical events or factors that drove the development or contributed to its development and application.

SEM2: You will continue to apply future studies methods but this time you will develop future scenarios for a technical field and applications. You will as a support apply four generic alternative futures and anticipate implications for your fields development and for strategic decision making in technology management or development.

Inl1.1: Summary of your timeline and descriptions of four scenarios, and a discussion on implications for you when developing technology and businesses in a Swedish context, making strategic decisions in this field.  

SEM3: This seminar is performed in two phases. Firstly you will be grouped and assigned a set of concepts that will later be your expertise. Then we re-arrange groups. The new groups consist of different experts and you will train the others to become knowledgeable in your concepts. This is an exercise in learning the concepts and describing them in your own words as well as give concrete examples of when they are relevant. You do this with the help of others in your expert group.  Then, each expert need to demonstrate their understanding by explaining to someone else. This is a similar exercise in future oral exams, in courses following this one. Secondly, when you have a common understanding, you will have a reflective discussion about the usefulness and links these concepts have had or could have had to earlier courses and to engineering and management issues they addressed.  

SEM4: This seminar follows the same structure as the first one, but his time the expert focus will be on different systems engineering processes and the reflective discussion on general and technology field specific engineering methods, including industrial management.  

Inl1.2: This is an individual reflection. It is graded based on level of reflection (descriptive (E), dialogic (C) and critical (A) in relation to your discussions in SEM3 and SEM4 and demonstrating that you can identify and apply concepts, theories and methods within your field of industrial engineering and management and reflect on how this is relevant to manage complex challenges. 

SEM5: In this seminar you will form your project group and apply brainstorming or other creative method in order to support your problem formulation and choice of project focus as well as formulating a project idea. The most important part for this is to describe your planned approach and how you will apply presented processes and analysis tools from the course.

Inl1.3: The assignment is a project idea that shows how you have understood the project instruction and how you have planned a systematic approach. For example a system description, system models, concept generation and ideas on decision tools or arguments for a how to verify a concept in a strategy.  

Inl1.4: This assignment is the main individual grade. It is performed as a two-hour QUIZZ (25/9 8-10 at CAMPUS). It assess parts of ILO2 and ILO3 and assess understanding of concepts, theories, methods, general engineering tools that you are expected to apply in your project. Each question on the quiz is graded based on three levels with I point each. 1p-technical (academic) definition (as you recall, no need to have exact same wording), 1p-describe for a “novice” in your own words, 1p – relevant example. To PASS (E) you need to have at least 1p per question, and then a scale of points will determine D, C, B and A. For example: 10 questions with max 30 pts could have 15 pts as PASS, as long as you also get at least 1 p per question. Meaning you cannot excel in 5 concepts and skip the rest. A list of concepts will be provided in time to study for the QUIZZ (after SEM3 and SEM4).

SEM6: Is an exercise on all of the 17 SDGs (UNs Sustainable Development Goals) and assess a system or system concept that you will develop in your project, potentially using a scenario from SEM2. You will assess your system or concept with respect to each SDG and their sub-goals and metrics. All material, method and assessment tool will be provided. For example you will discuss– What if this concept is successful, scale up and spread across the globe? Any expected undesired consequences? Feasible positive effects?

Inl1.5: Results from SDG assessment. The tool will provide a summary PDF as part of your assignment. In addition a system description and models and possibly derived concept of operations, depending on project.

SEM7: During this seminar you will present your project. You will get feedback and opposition from a teacher and another group. The presentation and defense is not graded, but you will be challenged again, to verbally justify choices, and arguments for your project outcome and demonstrate how methods, models and concepts have been applied.

Rap1.1 is a draft project report for peer review and feedback. You will be asked to provide peer reviews on two other project reports. You help each other’s with your reviews and, you get inspired by others examples of reports structure, system models and approach.  

Rap1.2 is graded A-F. Exact rubric see Project PM when published on CANVAS.

The course plan and schedule expect that you study full time at KTH.

NOTE in particular mandatory presence and active participation in ALL seminars. 

ALSO MANDATORY presence during the quizz in classroom 25/9 8-10. ROOM TBD

When the course starts there will be a some choices of seminar opportunities and presentation slots. You have the responsibility to raise issues, TIMELY in case of schedule conflicts that you cannot manage through your own planning to assure you can participate in seminars and presentations. 

You all have different schedules, so you also have the responsibility to plan time when your project group can meet and work on the report together. 

A note also for students that for example are allowed more time for a quizz, to let the teacher know. We do not commonly get this information beforehand. 

Course literature will be announced at the start of the course.

All material provided on CANVAS.

Students at KTH with a permanent disability can get support during studies from Funka:

Funka - compensatory support for students with disabilities

A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

• INL1 - Assignments, 1.0 credits, Grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
• RAP1 - Report, 2.0 credits, Grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

The course consists of preparatory lectures and group seminars providing learning activities. Learning objectives are examined through both individual and group assignments, named INL1 in LADOK. See below, which assignments that are individual and which grading scale that applies. A final project synthesize the course, which is named RAP1 in LADOK. 

INL1 - Assignments, 1.0 credits

• Grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
• 1 (group P/F), Inl1.2 (individual A-F), Inl1.3 (group P/F), Inl1.4 (individual quizz A-F), Inl1.5 (group P/F)

RAP1 - Report, 2.0 credits

• Grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
• 1 (group P/F), Rap1.2 (group A-F)

Grading scheme:

 Grade INL1: 40% Inl1.2 and 60% Inl1.4   

Final grade: 50% INL1 and 50% RAP1:

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

Attendance to course seminars is compulsory.

There will be opportunity in the course to complete examination in cases of Fx.

No opportunity to raise an approved grade. 

When possible for the course structure and particular activities, it is possible to catch up during the course. 

You need to have had had a valid excuse for missing a mandatory activity or that your absence was approved by the teacher in good time.

• All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
• In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
• In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.