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SEMM 1513�Introduction to Design

Report Writing

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Basic Principle of Report Writing

  • Design process will divide the chapter to write

Content

  • Set the objective for each chapter and this objective will guide the content of the chapter.

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Division of Chapters

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Chapter 1: Problem Statement

1.1 Problem Background

State the problems faced by the customers. These problems will indeed give the opportunity to design a device. Reference from other source is essential.

1.2 Problem Statement

Summarize the problem background and at the end of section states the need to design the device.

1.3 Objective

State the objective of the design

1.4 Scope

Most students are confused with scope. Scope states the limits of the design such as

    • The final design will be on paper design
    • Functional model on selected function will be fabricated
    • Required documentations of the design are video to overview the final product, technical report, and design portfolio (including engineering drawing)

1.4 Summary of the report

Give the brief of the following chapters.

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Chapter 2: Literature Review

2.1 Introduction

Introduce the content of the chapters.

2.1 Keyword 1

2.2 Keyword 2

2.n Keyword N

Refer to the bubble maps

2.m User

2.o Similar Product

This section will be the individual review.

Student name must be stated.

2.p Other selected design boundaries

2.q Product Design Specification

List down the PDS.

Every item in the PDS must be justified by literature review.

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Chapter 2: Example

This is also aligned with what Helen Hughes (2016) said regarding the house which the average size of one room is 7-10 feet wide and 7 feet 6 inches minimum height. This house specification is aligned with the interview we did which stated the height of the wall is 3x3 meters. This is important for the size of the machine which need to take factor of the size of the wall so that it is ergonomic. This is also to make sure we can specify the length of the machine can reach and the machine mobility also needs to be taken as we see the from Figure 2.1, the size of every room is different, and as the machine already built one side of a wall, the machine to move to another area, so the maximum size of the room and height is a top priority in the product specification.

According to ASTM C62, the standard size of a clay bricks (222 x 106 x 73) mm. this is for a standard brown clay bricks which by discussion that we made that, we wanted to specify our machine to only can lift up the standard clay bricks.

On 25th of September, one of our group members went to a construction site at Perumahan Rakyat, Lima Kedai, Skudai for an interview session with the project manager. The company we went to was Sinmah Builders, of which responsible for construction of terrace houses in the area. We conducted an interview with the project manager, Mr. Mohamad Shafieadey. According to Mr. Shafieadey, the average brick laying in a day for eight working hours is 500-600 bricks for one person. This depends on the performance and health of the worker. So, as stated by the project manager is for a fully healthy and performed worker. Also, through our discussion with project manager, he stated that the maximum horizontal and vertical length of wall is 3x3 meters. This is by specification stated by him which is the maximum height and width of a room. This also aligned with our proposed product design specification. According to the project manager, the mortar has to be used in the span of two hours before the mortar becomes dry and unusable. Quality of the mortar is important for brick laying as time is the limitation for the quality of the mortar. Therefore, the amount of mortar mixture is limited to the skill of the worker. Through our discussion with the project manager, he said that the mortar used is depend heavily on the worker quality of work during the period of working. So, the amount of mortar depends on the quality of worker for the period of the day and the time he can finish his work.

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Chapter 3: Concept Generation and Selection

3.1 Function Decomposition

Discuss the series of functions including the input and output of material, information and energy

3.2 Morphology Chart

Review the morphology chart and show the morphology chart

*Note: functions must be in VERB

3.3 Concepts (Individual Report)

Each person must explain their proposed concept.

3.4 Selection Matrix

Show the selection matrix and overview the selected final design

3.5 Reflection of the final design

Discuss the modification of the final design.

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Dos and Don’ts in Report Writing

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Standardization in Report Writing

  • Caption

Figure: at the bottom of the figure

Table: at the top of the table

  • Orientation

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Reference and Citation

Method to write the reference from various sources: refer to the note

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Reference and Citation

Refer to the note for other sources.

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Reference and Citation

Harvard referencing method

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Reference and Citation

Vancouver Referencing Style

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Common mistakes in report writing

What are the mistakes?

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Common mistakes in report writing

What are the mistakes?

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Features in Words

Styles

To set the standard styles for header, subheader and paragraph.

Review

To allow the team member to keep track of the correction done on the report.

Proofing

To check the spelling and grammar

Thesaurus: suggest other words that can be used in the report

Advanced Tools

You can refer to youtube to learn more advanced tools

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Submission Report Writing Part 1

  • Chap 1 to Chap 3
  • Submission Date: 28 May 2022, Saturday 11:59 pm