Programme Overview

Brief description of the courses

1. DSM701 Research Methodology in Smart Manufacturing
This course provides a critical foundation in advanced research methodologies for addressing very complex and significant challenges in smart manufacturing and technological innovation. Students will engage with cutting-edge mixed-methods frameworks, data integration techniques, and computational research designs that span computer science, data analytics, operations research, human factors engineering, and sustainability studies. Through rigorous workshops, the course emphasizes the creation and justification of novel methodological approaches capable of generating significant and moriginal contributions to the field. Participants will develop the expertise to innovatively design, creatively execute, and critically evaluate research that integrates diverse epistemological traditions and technological paradigms, while adhering to the highest standards of ethical and scholarly rigor in a cross-disciplinary context. This course feeds into the subsequent courses in the programme, especially where the mixed-methods frameworks and data integration techniques are required.

2. DSM702 Frontiers in Smart Manufacturing and Industry 4.0
This course provides a systematic frontier knowledge to the core theories and practical applications of advanced manufacturing technologies and the smart transformation under Industry 4.0. Key topics include advanced manufacturing processes, intelligent manufacturing systems, the Industrial Internet of Things, Low-altitude technology, robotics and automation, and additive manufacturing. Emphasising data-driven manufacturing, system integration, and intelligent optimization, the course integrates the latest industry trends with case studies and project-based learning. The mixed-methods frameworks and data integration techniques are recommended to enhance the cross-course relationship. It prepares students to understand and apply high-end manufacturing and smart production systems, laying a solid foundation for future careers in smart factories, sustainable manufacturing, and interdisciplinary innovation sectors.

3. DSM703 Advanced Materials and Technology
This course offers a substantial and advanced knowledge of advanced functional materials, focusing on their structures, properties, fabrication techniques, and applications. Students will explore the relationship between material structure, properties, and performance across a range of innovative substances and composites. Key topics include nanostructured materials, high-performance alloys, smart and responsive materials, biodegradable polymers, composite reinforcement strategies, surface engineering, and material functionalization techniques. The course also addresses material selection criteria, durability under extreme conditions, and integration of new materials into digital production environments. Through case studies and hands-on projects, students will develop the ability to evaluate, select, and implement advanced materials for use in cutting-edge industrial applications.

4. DSM704 Additive and Advanced Manufacturing
This course offers an in-depth exploration of cutting-edge additive manufacturing technologies and their integration with advanced production systems through technical workshops, case analyses, and expert-led seminars. It examines how processes such as multi-material 3D printing, generative design, and digital thread implementation are transforming product development, customisation, and sustainability across sectors including aerospace, robotics, medical devices, and energy. The curriculum emphasizes technical mastery, innovation in material-process integration, and economic and ecological considerations in advanced manufacturing. Participants will develop the ability to lead the adoption and improvement of additive and advanced manufacturing technologies in
industrial and research settings.

5. DSM705 Robotics and Industrial Automation
This course provides advanced and forefront knowledge of robotics and industrial automation, focusing on the integration of intelligent robotic systems within very complexmanufacturing and service environments. It examines modelling, design, and control of robotic systems, collaborative and autonomous robots, AI-driven automation, and cyberphysicalproduction systems. Topics include kinematic and dynamic modelling, sensorfusion, machine vision, motion planning, human–robot interaction, distributed roboticsystems, and ethical implications of automation. Through lectures, case studies, simulationbasedexperiments, and research-driven projects, students will develop the expertise todesign, evaluate, and optimise robotic and automated systems that enhance productivity,
flexibility, and sustainability in next-generation industries.

6. DSM706 Engineering Management and Optimisation
This course provides substantial knowledge of advanced management and optimisation of advanced manufacturing systems. It addresses the strategic and operational dimensions of manufacturing, focusing on decision-making under uncertainty, sustainable production planning, supply chain integration, and data-driven optimization. Students will engage with advanced theories and methods from forefront operations research, systems engineering, and industrial analytics to design and evaluate innovative management strategies. Through lectures, modelling workshops, and research projects, students will develop the expertise to critically analyse complex manufacturing environments and propose optimised solutions that advance both academic and industrial practice.

7. DSM707 Modern Industrial Product Design
This course provides a systematic approach to designing and developing innovative products that integrate advanced technology, user-centred principles, and sustainable practices. It covers the entire development process from concept generation to prototyping, emphasising user-centred design, manufacturability, and environmental impact. Key topics include design thinking, product architecture planning, user experience research, design for manufacturability and assembly, rapid prototyping technologies, and sustainability-driven design strategies. Students will learn to transform technological concepts into functional, scalable, and socially meaningful product solutions. This course prepares students to lead product innovation in high-tech industries, equipping them with the skills to create nextgeneration smart products.

8. DSM708 Leadership and Innovation in Smart Manufacturing
This course is designed to cultivate strategic leadership and innovation management capabilities at the highest level. This course moves beyond technical mastery to focus on leading organizational transformation in complex industrial environments. Through a blend of seminars, workshops, and case studies led by academic and industrial leaders, students will critically examine theories of technological change, develop strategies for fostering innovation, and navigate the human and organizational challenges of digital transformation. The course prepares students to assume executive and entrepreneurial roles, driving sustainable and competitive advancements in the global manufacturing landscape.

9. DSM709 Green Energy and Storage Technology
This course introduces innovative energy and storage systems essential for sustainable manufacturing and smart urban infrastructure. Students will analyse the integration of renewable sources and advanced storage solutions into industrial and urban energy networks. Key topics include solar photovoltaics, wind power integration, hydrogen energy systems battery technologies (e.g., lithium-ion, solid-state), fuel cells, smart grid management, energy storage materials, grid stability, and life-cycle assessment of energy systems. The course also covers energy policy, economic feasibility, and system optimization for carbonsensitive environments. Through case analyses and technology evaluation projects, students will develop the skills to design, assess, and implement efficient and scalable green energy solutions.

10. DSM710 Carbon Neutrality and Environmental Governance
This course examines the technological pathways, policy frameworks, and governance strategies for achieving carbon neutrality in industrial and urban contexts. Students will learn to analyse, design, and implement systems that reduce carbon emissions while supporting sustainable development. Key topics include carbon accounting and emission tracking, carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS), circular economy models, climate policy and carbon trading mechanisms, environmental impact assessment, ESG compliance, and green transition roadmaps for smart cities and industries. Through case studies, policy simulations, and project-based exercises, students will develop the ability to integrate technological solutions with regulatory and social dimensions, preparing them to lead crosssector initiatives in decarbonization and sustainable governance.

11. DSM711 Digital and Sustainable Industrial Systems
This course offers a comprehensive exploration of the integration of digital technologies and sustainable practices in modern industrial systems. It examines how digital transformation can drive efficiency, resilience, and environmental responsibility across manufacturing and supply chain operations. Key topics include additive manufacturing, smart energy management, circular economy models, green supply chain design, carbon footprint tracking, and ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) compliance frameworks. The course combines theoretical principles with real-world case studies and simulation-based projects to illustrate how digital tools can monitor, optimise, and reduce ecological impacts while maintaining economic viability. Students will learn to design and evaluate industrial systems that are not only technologically advanced but also environmentally sustainable and socially responsible. The mixed-methods frameworks and data integration techniques are recommended to enhance the cross-course relationship. The course prepares graduates to lead in the development and implementation of digitally enhanced sustainable industrial systems.

12. DSM712 Special Topics in Smart Manufacturing
This course is an advanced course designed to explore the most dynamic and emerging research trends within the field of smart manufacturing. Moving beyond conventional manufacturing processes, the course focuses on the convergence of multiple disruptive technological directions. Students will engage with cutting-edge topics, including AI-driven industrial decision-making and optimization, AI-accelerated material discovery and design, the latest breakthroughs in carbon-negative technologies, and the industrialization progress of next-generation energy materials like perovskite photovoltaics. The course adopts a unique seminar-style format, featuring rotating lectures from leading experts within the university and industry, each sharing their latest research findings and unique insights into future trends. Upon completion, students will be positioned at the forefront of academic and industrial application, equipped with the vision and capabilities necessary to lead future manufacturing transformations.

13. DSM721 Doctoral Thesis
The Doctoral Thesis represents the culminating component of the Doctor of Smart Manufacturing programme. It requires students to conceive, design, and execute a substantial body of original research that makes a significant and original contribution to the forefront of smart manufacturing and its interrelated disciplines. Under supervision, students will demonstrate a critical overview of their field, deal with very complex and novel issues, and produce creative and original responses to fundamental challenges in areas such as advanced materials, robotics and automation, industrial AI, and sustainable digital transformation. The thesis (40,000-60,000 words) must demonstrate scholarly rigour, interdisciplinary integration, methodological innovation, and a high degree of autonomy, ultimately advancing both academic knowledge and industrial or societal practice. This course is graded on a pass/fail basis and does not count towards GPA.