Research Methods for Mechanical Engineering CPD Plan Report

This report details a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) plan and project proposal tailored for a mechanical engineer aiming to advance their career in the automotive manufacturing industry. It begins with an introduction to professional development and its importance, followed by a reflective CPD plan, identifying strengths and weaknesses. The plan outlines specific learning objectives, activities, resources, and timelines to enhance skills in areas such as mathematics, communication, lean manufacturing, and fabrication technology. The project proposal section includes an examination of scope, objectives, and associated risks. The report also addresses sources of knowledge, ethical, legal, social, security, and professional issues. Overall, the assignment provides a structured approach to career development, emphasizing continuous improvement and practical application of skills within the mechanical engineering field.

Research Methods
for
Professional Practice

Table of Contents
.........................................................................................................................................................1
Introduction .....................................................................................................................................1
Part one: Reflective CPD (continuous professional development)..................................................1
Part three: Project proposal..............................................................................................................6
i) Scope, Objectives and Risk .........................................................................................................6
Log to record achievements in relation to the project......................................................................9
ii) Sources and use of Knowledge ................................................................................................14
Research and apply appropriate knowledge.........................................................................14
Evaluate legitimacy of all sources........................................................................................15
Relate knowledge to appropriate work-based examples......................................................16
Justify all recommendations made.......................................................................................16
iii) Ethics, Legal, Social, Security and Professional Issues...........................................................17
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................17
References......................................................................................................................................18

Introduction
Professional development is considered as process of learning in order to develop or
maintain professional credentials and for this a person can adopt numbers of methods such as
attainment of conferences, formal coursework, informal opportunities of learning and many more
(Bertrand and Hughes, 2017). By conducting professional develop a person or employees can
enhance their skills, capabilities and knowledge on the regular basis which help them in
performing quality work in effective manner. The main aim of conducting this report is to
conduct professional development of a person who is mechanical engineer and want to make
career in manufacturing industry. For this they adopt different methods i.e. development of CPD
plan (continuous professional development), evaluation of achievement or learning log and
detail study of scope, objective and risk. Along with this it will also include ethical, social, legal,
security and professional issues which faced during the profession development. Through this
evaluation a person able to measure effectiveness of continuous development plan by which they
can develop effective or bright career.
Part one: Reflective CPD (continuous professional development)
Continuous professional development is considered as procedure of training and
development of professional knowledge as well as skills by adopting interactive, independent
and participation based learning (Cheung, 2016). In past I gain some experience in automotive
manufacturing industry which could be beneficial for me in order to building career in the same.
Company in which I gain my past experiences and achievements is Volkswagen which is one of
the leading automotive company which manufacture and sales automotive vehicles and its parts.
While I am conducting work their I go through several ups and downs at that time I able to get to
know that some of my skills that denotes my strengths and some are weaknesses. Below table is
given related to strong and weak skills which I get to know at similar industry:-
Skills which denotes strength Skills which are weak
I have effective technical skills, problem
solving skills, interpersonal skills,
collaboration skills and many more.
My skills in which I am lacking behind are
mathematics, communication, lean
manufacturing skills, fabrication technology
and many more.
1

Currently I am perusing my master's studies so that I can develop my career for the
position that I want to grasp in manufacturing industry as a mechanical engineer. For that I am
planning to enhance my weak skills in future after accomplishment of studies so that I can
develop career in the similar sector. Moreover for that I am developing Continuous professional
development plan, which is given below:-
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Plan
Identifying
learning
needs
Define
expected
learning
outcomes
Identify
learning
activity
Resources Timescale Communication Evaluation
Mathematic
s Skills
If I want to
develop
career in
manufacturi
ng industry
it is
essential for
me have
mathematic
s skill
because that
will help
me in
conducting
statistics as
well as
calculus in
effective
manner for
attainment
For
enhancing
this skill I
can
conduct
implement
formal and
informal
activities.
According
to formal
activity I
can attain
structured
course and
technical
training
that how
maths will
use in
Resources
which I
required to
enhance
my
mathemati
cal skill
are mentor
or trainer
who teach
me maths
and its
implicatio
n.
Moreover
I also
required
funds and
time for
conduct
23rd
December
2019 to
25th March
2020.
In order to
enhance this skill
I need to conduct
communication
in both oral as
well as written
form. This is so
because this will
help me in
enhancing skills
in effective
manner.
This skill is
included in
the
Continuing
Professional
Developmen
t plan
because it is
one of the
my skill in
which I ma
lacking
behind and
it is
essential for
me to
enhance this
skill. This is
so because
through it I
2

of goal. respective
sector.
Further in
respect of
informal
activities I
can
conduct
reading so
that I
enhance
my
knowledge
.
course in
proper
way for
enhancing
skill.
can conduct
statistics
and calculus
practices
effectively
and
successfully
.
Communica
tion Skills
To develop
career in
manufacturi
ng industry
as a
mechanical
engineer I
need to
enhance my
communica
tion skill so
that I can
train other
engineers in
effective
manner. It
will also
In order to
enhance
respective
skill I can
conduct
various
practices
or
activities
such as
peer and
profession
al
interaction
so that it
will help
me in
For
enhancing
this skill I
required
resources
like time,
reading
books,
participati
on in
debate,
attain
meeting,
taking
classes of
public
speaking
30th
December
2019 to 2nd
February
2020.
For improving
similar skill I
need to do both
oral as well as
written
communication
because it will
help developing
communication
skills in more
proper way.
The
respective
skill is
include in
Continuing
Professional
Developmen
t plan
because
when I will
work at
manufacturi
ng industry
as a
mechanical
engineer I
need to
3

help in
conducting
clear
interaction
among the
staffs,
superiors
and team
members.
conducting
effective
communic
ation.
Along with
this I can
also try to
interact or
communic
ate with
each and
every
person at
workplace.
and many
more.
communicat
e to other
engineers
and
members for
which I
need to have
proper
communicat
ion skill so
that I can
properly
understand
information
and make
other stand
too.
Lean
manufacturi
ng skills
It is one of
the essential
skill which
is needed in
manufacturi
ng industry
so that I can
do waste
managemen
t properly
and
successfully
. It will also
help me in
Activities
which I
can
conduct in
order to
enhance
this skills
are formal
activities
like proper
structured
course,
attain
seminars,
In order to
enhance
this skills I
required
several
skills such
as mentor
or trainer,
time,
workshop,
books,
internet
connectivit
y and
28th
December
2019 to
15nd
February
2020.
For enhancing
this skill I can
conduct both
types of
communication
i.e. written as
well as oral
communication.
It is so because in
order to enhance
lean
manufacturing
skill I need to
interact with
This skill I
need to
enhance or
included in
Continuing
Professional
Developmen
t plan
because in
manufacturi
ng industry
it is
essential to
have
4

fulfilling
demand of
customers
in proper
time with
minimum
wastage.
technical
training
and so on.
Along with
this I can
also
implement
informal
activities
like go to
workshop,
grab
knowledge
and so on.
many
others.
others for which
oral
communication
will used. On the
other hand I will
also gather
information
personally in
which I can use
written
communication.
knowledge
of lean
manufacturi
ng
procedure
so that I can
conduct
work on
time with
minimum or
no wastage
in
successful
manner.
Fabrication
technology
Skills
This skill is
related to
building a
metal
structure,
cutting,
welding and
so on. It is
essential for
me to
enhance
this skills
because it is
required in
manufacturi
ng industry.
Activities
which I
can adopt
in order to
enhance
this skills
are formal
activities
like attain
seminars,
conduct
technical
training,
structured
courses
and many
more.
Resources
which are
required
for
improving
this skills
are
mentor,
trainer,
books,
funds,
time and
many
more.
29th
December
2019 to
22nd
February
2020.
Communication
methods which I
can adopt in
order to enhance
respective skills
are both written
as well as oral.
This is so
because I need to
attain classes as
well as conduct
self reading so
both types of
communication
methods can
used.
Fabrication
technology
skill is
involved in
Continuing
Professional
Developmen
t plan
because it is
essential for
me to
improve this
skill for
building my
career in
manufacturi
5

Furthermo
re I can
also adopt
informal
activities
according
to which I
can attain
workshop,
read books
and article
to know
about its
concepts
and many
more. I can
also
conduct
peer and
profession
al
interaction
at
workplace.
ng industry.
Part three: Project proposal
i) Scope, Objectives and Risk
For every company it is essential to conduct evaluation of their scope on which their
objective will be based then accordingly it will help them in analysing risk. Through this they
can also able to develop strategies as well as plans through which they can avoid risk in effective
as well as effectual manner (Chodorow, 2018). In respect of automotive manufacturing industry,
6

this process is also essential for them because at that industry changes are occur on regular basis
so it is essential for their employees to conduct improvement plan accordingly so that they can
sustain in market for the long time duration. In automotive industry changes are occur at
continuous basis so it is essential for companies and employees who are working or want to work
in similar industry to adopt changes on regular basis. It is so because at this industry those
companies as well as candidate get priority who have updated skills, capabilities and
knowledges. In order to this staff can adopt personal development plan because it will help them
in conducting development on the regular basis according to need and demand of market.
Through this type process a person able to enhance their capabilities with help of
certification learning in successful manner. There are number of benefits which are gain by a
person when they adopt continuous professional development such as enhance learning abilities
and promote independent learning. Along with this it will also help in improving personal skill,
confidence and intellect as well as it also aid in endorsing a learning culture at workplace.
Personal development plan of this report is based on own development opportunities of career in
manufacturing industry with the help of my current qualification and knowledge in mechanical
engineering (Coughlan and et. al., 2016). I also want to develop my future career in automotive
industry after accomplishment of my master course. For which I conduct evaluation through
personal development plan which help me in understanding my effectiveness through which I
can develop my career effectively in respective industry.
Moreover, I want to develop my career in manufacturing industry and for that I need to
develop my some weak skills such as Mathematics Skills, Communication Skills, Lean
manufacturing skills and Fabrication technology Skills. These skills are essential to develop
because through it I can develop my career effectively in respective industry as well as that will
also help me in building bright future at manufacturing industry. Along with this, from all these
skills I need to enhance one skill on the priority basis i.e. Fabrication technology Skills, it is
related with this building of metal structure by conducting cutting, welding, melting and many
more (Evans and Evatt, 2018). It is essential for me to develop this skill on priority basis
because in manufacturing sector it is one of the main skill on the basis of which selection is
done. Furthermore, in this industry if a person have Fabrication technology Skills they get
priority at the time of selection procedure.
7

Along with this by conducting this proposal I able to develop proper strategies through
which I can improve my knowledge for developing my career in automotive industry in effective
manner. For conduct this proposal in appropriate way I adopt continuous improvement plan or
professional development plan because through it I can systematically plan things for enhancing
by skills for conducting work in best company of automotive manufacturing company in future.
There are also several advantages of adopting this proposal such as I can do things
systematically, I can develop clear objective, this will also help me in improving my productivity
and work quality and many more. Moreover, it is also effective for respective industry company
because that will help them in gaining high competitive advancement, minimise turnover ratio,
enhance flexibility at workplace and many more (Gravetter and Forzano, 2018). These are the
major purpose which encourage me to conduct or develop respective proposal so that I can
improve my skills in effective as well as successful way.
In addition to this, fir conducting work or developing career in automotive industry for
the long time duration I develop some objective. This is so because through that I able to get
proper framework or guidance that how can I develop my career effectively in respective
industry. In respect of building career in automotive sector I create some objectives such as I
want to improve my Fabrication technology Skills in 56 days so that I can develop my career in
manufacturing industry. In addition to this another objective which encourage me for the
development of future is I want to improve my lean manufacturing skills in 50 days so that I can
conduct my work in proper time with minimum or no wastage. I also develop many other
objectives so that I can enhance my all skills in which I am lacking behind, it is so because that
will help in developing proper as well as relevant framework in effective manner which leads to
attainment of desired goal and target.
Risk appraisal is considered as evaluation of chances which may occur in future as well
as it will also help in analysing negative impact that may happen due to conducting any activity.
So this will also help in developing future action plan which is used to minimise negative impact
that may take place in future. Risk appraisal can be conducted through risk assessment and there
are numbers of benefits which a company can gain who is conducting their work in automotive
manufacturing industry (Greenfield and Greener, 2016). For example firm's can conduct optimal
productivity which lead to usage of proper resources as well as it will also help in making
employees happy. Through this industry can also attract qualified employees which leads to
8

attainment of goal as well as objectives in effective manner. In addition to this, it will also help
company in saving money because happy employees conduct their work in effective manner as
well as it will also help in utilising resources in effectual way. It will also help companies in
developing and maintaining positive image at the automotive industry as well as marketplace.
For risk appraisal an organisation can adopt number of practices such as train employees on
regular basis, develop work procedure, conduct activities for employees fitness, ensure
maintenance of equipments and structure of companies and many more.
In context of automotive manufacturing industry trends are changing on the regular basis
such as in current time they are using usage based insurance for vehicles, V2X and V2G
technology, technology related to vehicle as hub (Hair, Page and Brunsveld, 2019). Moreover,
automotive manufacturing industry are also adopting some other technology for example mild
hybrid, car health monitor, truck platooning and many more. So it is essential for me to develop
continuous improvement plan so that I can improve my skills, abilities and capabilities according
to the requirement of industry in effective as well as successful manner. Along with this, it will
also help me in developing my career in one of the best automotive manufacturing industry
around the world as well as enhanced skilled also help in gaining high salary package. It is also
necessary for me to conduct development on the regular basis so that I can develop as well as
sustain in manufacturing industry of automotive in effective way. In addition to this, trends of
respective industry change according to location, customers requirement and expectation so it is
important for me to regularly attain training as well as development session. This is so because it
will aid in development of skills, abilities and knowledge according to requirement of current
industry customers.
Log to record achievements in relation to the project
This is said to be one of the crucial section for an investigator, while conducting a project
management plan in relation to the subject that has been considered which is directly linked with
manufacturing industry (Hansen and Machin, 2018). Here, preparation of a log could directly aid
in managing the project in any sort of sector, in which an investigation is going on. Basically,
this aid in meeting the requirements of the different desired goals and objectives in specified
time frame that the researcher has developed in order to resolve a particular problem.
9