Professional Development: CPD Plan and Project Proposal

This report focuses on professional development for a mechanical engineer aiming to build a career in the manufacturing industry. It includes a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) plan, detailing skill strengths and weaknesses, and outlining learning activities to improve skills like mathematics, communication, and fabrication technology. The report also presents a project proposal on quality management, discussing its scope, objectives, and associated risks within the automotive industry. The proposal emphasizes the importance of quality management strategies, including testing and data analysis, to enhance productivity, brand reputation, and market competitiveness. It also highlights the significance of fabrication technology skills in the manufacturing sector and suggests methods for skill enhancement through formal and informal learning activities. The report is structured to provide a comprehensive overview of professional development, quality management, and practical application within the automotive industry.

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. This is so
because through these skills I can conduct my
work in effective manner as well as these skills
My skills in which I am lacking behind are
mathematics, communication, lean
manufacturing skills, fabrication technology
and many more. I consider these skills as my
weakness because these skills hamper or seem
1

also helps me in attaining my career objectives
successfully and effectively.
as a hurdle in attaining my desire goal and
objectives successfully. Moreover, I need to
improve these skills properly so that I can
achieve very career objective successfully.
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
For
enhancing
this skill I
can
conduct
implement
formal and
informal
activities.
According
to formal
activity I
can attain
structured
course and
technical
Resources
which I
required to
enhance
my
mathemati
cal skill
are mentor
or trainer
who
teaches me
maths and
its
implicatio
n.
Moreover
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 my
skill in
which I may
lacking
behind and
it is
essential for
me to
2

calculus in
effective
manner for
attainment
of goal.
training
that how
maths will
use in
respective
sector.
Further in
respect of
informal
activities I
can
conduct
reading so
that I
enhance
my
knowledge
.
I also
required
funds and
time for
conduct
course in
proper
way for
enhancing
skill.
enhance this
skill. This is
so because
through it I
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
In order to
enhance
respective
skill I can
conduct
various
practices
or
activities
such as
peer and
profession
al
For
enhancing
this skill I
required
resources
like time,
reading
books,
participati
on in
debate,
attain
meeting,
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
3

engineers in
effective
manner. It
will also
help in
conducting
clear
interaction
among the
staffs,
superiors
and team
members.
interaction
so that it
will help
me in
conducting
effective
communic
ation.
Along with
this I can
also try to
interact or
communic
ate with
each and
every
person at
workplace.
taking
classes of
public
speaking
and many
more.
as a
mechanical
engineer I
need to
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
Activities
which I
can
conduct in
order to
enhance
this skills
are formal
activities
like proper
In order to
enhance
this skills I
required
several
skills such
as mentor
or trainer,
time,
workshop,
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
This skill I
need to
enhance or
included in
Continuing
Professional
Developmen
t plan
because in
manufacturi
4

and
successfully
. It will also
help me in
fulfilling
demand of
customers
in proper
time with
minimum
wastage.
structured
course,
attain
seminars,
technical
training
and so on.
Along with
this I can
also
implement
informal
activities
like go to
workshop,
grab
knowledge
and so on.
books,
internet
connectivit
y and
many
others.
lean
manufacturing
skill I need to
interact with
others for which
oral
communication
will used. On the
other hand I will
also gather
information
personally in
which I can use
written
communication.
ng industry
it is
essential to
have
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
Activities
which I
can adopt
in order to
enhance
this skills
are formal
activities
like attain
seminars,
conduct
technical
training,
Resources
which are
required
for
improving
this skills
are
mentor,
trainer,
books,
funds,
time and
many
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
Fabrication
technology
skill is
involved in
Continuing
Professional
Developmen
t plan
because it is
essential for
me to
improve this
skill for
5

required in
manufacturi
ng industry.
structured
courses
and many
more.
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.
more. communication
methods can
used.
building my
career in
manufacturi
ng industry.
Part three: Project proposal
Quality Management
6

i) Scope, Objectives and Risk
For every company it is essential to conduct evaluation of their quality management 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, 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 as per the needs
of management in quality 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 has updated skills, capabilities and knowledge. In order to this staff can adopt quality
management plan because it will help them in conducting development on the regular basis
according to need and demand of market and the quality they are seeking.
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 gained by a
company when they adopt quality management strategies and procedures such quality testing and
durability test. Along with this it will also help in improving productivity, accurate data for needs
of market as well as it also aid in endorsing a learning culture at workplace. Quality management
plan will certainly provide assistance to the company in endorsing the quality standards and
therefore uplift the brand reputation (Coughlan and et. al., 2016). It is highly essential to adopt
the procedure of quality management plan as it will raise the productivity and brand reputation of
the company along with platform of growing opportunities across the globe.
Moreover, project plan of quality management has been implemented with motive of
uplifting the quality within products of manufacturing industry and for that it is essential to
acquire knowledge regarding various kind of skills like research and development,
communication with customers and many other so as to provide the best product and maximise
the productivity. These skills are essential to develop because through it improvisation can be
brought within quality effectively in respective industry as well as that will also help in building
market reputation at manufacturing industry. Along with this, from all these skills it is essential
to enhance one skill within employees on the priority basis i.e. Fabrication technology Skills, it is
7

related with this building of metal structure by conducting cutting, welding, melting and many
more (Evans and Evatt, 2018). It is essential to develop this skill on priority basis because in
manufacturing sector it is one of the main skill on which products or cars are being built.
Furthermore, in this industry if a person has Fabrication technology Skills they get priority at the
time of quality management plans.
By conduction of this quality management plan, certain factors and elements can be
evaluated which an automotive industry can adopt for bringing out improvisation within their
quality procedure and enhance goodwill as well. For conduct this proposal in appropriate way,
adoption of continuous improvement plan is applied because through this it can systematically
plan things for enhancing the skills for conducting work in quality management sector within the
automotive company. Clear objectives can be developed and therefore implemented with motive
of extracting out the maximum level of productivity. 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 encourages conducting or developing
respective proposal so that it can improve skills in effective as well as successful way.
In addition to this, for conducting work or developing quality management in automotive
industry for the long time duration improvisation is bought within the objectives. This is because
through that company will be able to get proper framework or guidance that how they can
develop quality management effectively in respective industry. Once vehicles are shipped to the
consumer, the automobile sector has a strong quality control program in order to define, monitor
and address the product problems. This helps companies to achieve enforcement and
organizational efficiency, ensuring that market-wide best practices are practiced across the
enterprise. Focused on consumer demands and regulatory guidelines, quality control has become
a crucial technique, particularly for automotive industry. This means the organization meets the
best procedures, workflows and mindset to meet the service requirements of the consumers.
Quality control has become an effective strategy for any sector, particularly Automotive, based
on consumer demands and regulatory standards. This means the organization meets the best
procedures, workflows and mindset to meet the service requirements of the consumers.
Nonetheless, the Quality Management Program is something that car producers and vendors
8

absolutely cannot neglect at either level, including safety inspections, ISO quality enforcement,
tests, etc., before selling the goods.
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 lead to
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 employee’s 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 is also adopting some other technology for example mild
hybrid, car health monitor, trucks Platooning and many more. The usage of an automobile
quality control program also tends to reduce the time to market for the goods. The manual
procedures take a long time to authorize the necessary activities, so the organization may plan
the successful dates and expiry dates for the procedure of approvals with an automated quality
control program. The automobile quality control program software often maintains the
organization aware of each move so that it can make educated choices in time and ensure prompt
distribution of the goods to the consumer or end-users.. In addition to this, trends of respective
industry change according to location, customer’s 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
9

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.
Week Date Nature of
contact
e.g. Lecture,
Self-directed,
One to one etc.
Content Action taken
1 August
11, 2019
Lecture
Introduction to
research topic.
Under this, research topic has been
developed with the help of lecturer
and resolve issues through him/her.
Including this, problem is being
identified so that to maximise the
probability of pulling out favourable
outcomes (Hong-Xing and HUANG,
2017).
2 August
16, 2019
Lecture
Looking into
different skills
related to
manufacturing
industry to
manage different
targeted projects.
There are number of skills that has
been identified that would help the
investigator in pulling out favourable
outcomes in relation to the project.
Along with this, considering CPD plan
that helped in making continuous
improvements among skills that are
considered.
10