MITx: Manufacturing Systems I course Syllabus

Overview: This course offers a comprehensive introduction to manufacturing systems, focusing on production processes, system design, and operational efficiency. Learners will develop strong analytical skills to evaluate and optimize production flow, capacity, bottlenecks, and inventory management. With a blend of theoretical models and practical applications, the course spans approximately 14–20 weeks of part-time study, requiring 6–8 hours per week. It is ideal for students and professionals pursuing careers in industrial engineering, operations management, and supply chain optimization.

Module 1: Foundations of Manufacturing Systems

Estimated time: 24 hours

• Structure of production systems and operational workflows
• Key performance metrics: throughput, work-in-progress (WIP), and cycle time
• Principles of production flow and system variability
• Process mapping and system evaluation techniques

Module 2: Capacity Analysis and Bottleneck Management

Estimated time: 32 hours

• Identification of system constraints and capacity limits
• Calculation of system capacity and utilization rates
• Understanding bottleneck behavior and impact on output
• Application of quantitative tools for performance improvement

Module 3: Inventory and Production Control

Estimated time: 32 hours

• Strategies for balancing efficiency and responsiveness
• Inventory management and cost trade-offs
• Push vs. pull production systems
• Just-in-Time (JIT) principles and implementation challenges

Module 4: Performance Improvement and Lean Concepts

Estimated time: 24 hours

• Introduction to lean manufacturing principles
• Waste reduction techniques (e.g., muda, kaizen)
• Process optimization using system-level thinking
• Continuous improvement frameworks in manufacturing

Module 5: Variability and Production Planning

Estimated time: 20 hours

• Analysis of variability in production systems
• Impact of variability on throughput and cycle time
• Little’s Law and its application in system modeling
• Strategies for stabilizing production under uncertainty

Module 6: Final Project

Estimated time: 16 hours

• Analysis of a real-world manufacturing system
• Identification of bottlenecks and inefficiencies
• Development of optimization recommendations using course concepts

Prerequisites

• Basic understanding of algebra and quantitative reasoning
• Familiarity with fundamental engineering or operations concepts
• Access to a spreadsheet tool for data analysis

What You'll Be Able to Do After

• Analyze production systems using key metrics like throughput, WIP, and cycle time
• Identify and manage bottlenecks to improve system capacity
• Apply inventory control strategies and JIT principles effectively
• Use lean concepts to eliminate waste and improve efficiency
• Model and optimize manufacturing systems under variability