Experiential learning: A case study approach to materials and manufacturing process selection

'Automotive Materials' is a core course in the Master of Engineering (International Automotive Engineering) Program. The course content focuses on niche areas in component design including alternative materials. Each topic is presented in relation to a particular application. Formal lectures are combined with materials and manufacturing selection case studies where the properties of materials are discussed in the context of particular applications. The present case study focuses on the materials and process selection for an automotive application in particular vehicle roof-rack. Students working in groups chose different vehicles equipped with different types of roof-racks. The use of a computer based materials and process selection methodology was demonstrated and the experiences of the students were discussed.