The Precision Engineering Workforce Skills Qualification (PE WSQ) Graduate Diploma in Precision Measurements and Characterisation(PMC) is a joint initiative by the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) and the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA). The objective of the course is to transfer the core competencies including fundamental knowledge and hands-on skills in precision measurements, metrology, and material characterisation required for managers and engineers in precision engineering related manufacturing industries. The course is conducted by both local and international scientists from NIST (USA) with excellent track record in precision measurements. Participants can choose any 5 units out of the 6 units offered, which are:

1. Geometric Characteristics and Tolerancing
2. Engineering Optics & Optical Measurements
3. Dimensional Metrology, Instruments and Measurement Standards
4. Industrial Vision Inspection and Measurements
5. Material Characterisation
6. Solar Cell Inspection and Measurements

The courses will be conducted through a series of lectures and hands-on experiments. Participants will gain basic knowledge, techniques and hands-on skills in optics & laser, precision dimensional measurements, metrology, precision instruments, data analysis, material testing & characterisation and measurement standards. Besides these basic measurement technologies, participants will also acquire advanced knowledge and technology trends on precision measurements for precision engineering.

Precision measurements, metrology, and material characterisation play an enabling role in precision engineering, electronics, medical devices, and other industrial sectors. The course is designed for Directors Managers, Engineers, Researchers and Technical staff in precision mechanics, equipment development, measurements, metrology, quality control (QC), R&D, optics components and optical instrumentation, material testing & characterisation etc from the Precision Engineering, Semiconductor, Electronics, Aerospace, Automotive, Biomedical sectors. Participants will be granted with the Graduate Diploma after passing all units. Participants are also welcome to select one or a few modules, and they will be granted with a certificate of that module after they complete each module and pass the module assessment.

[ Course Units ]
Unit 1: Geometric Characteristics & Tolerancing
This unit aims to provide students with fundamental knowledge and hands-on inspection skills on the subject of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T). The unit will be conducted interactively with lots of practical case studies.

GD&T is a graphic language that can efficiently and accurately communicate the geometry requirements for associated features on components and assemblies. It describes the nominal geometry of parts and assemblies to define the allowable variation in form and possibly size of individual features, and to define the allowable variation between features. With GD&T defined on a drawing, the part and assembly geometry can be realised with the desired form and fit (within limits). This ensures the intended function of the parts and assembly. The unit will benefit mechanical designers and engineers, quality manufacturing inspection operators, engineers and managers and those required to interpret or apply geometric dimensioning & tolerancing (GD&T).

Course Outline
1. Overview of GD&T basic principles
2. Datum systems
3. Tolerance of position
4. Feature control frames
5. Graphic analysis
6. A strategy for tolerancing parts


Unit 2: Engineering Optics & Optical Measurements
This unit covers the basic concepts, principles and various techniques that are widely used for optical testing, measurements and engineering. An overview of the field and issues will be followed by detailed discussions of the major techniques in geometrical optics, physical optics, laser optics, and optical measurements. Experiments and measurements based on industry applications will be presented to demonstrate the benefits of using these techniques.

A unique feature about this unit is the hands-on sessions which the participants will have the opportunity with the components, set-ups and instruments for further understanding of the effects of optical refraction, diffraction, interference and various advanced optical measurement techniques.

Knowledge of optics and optical measurement techniques will allow precision testing and measurements professionals and their managers to grasp the technical details of advanced optical measurement and testing, and apply it to improve their factory performance, product quality and business portfolio.

Course Outline
1. Geometrical optics, design, and simulation
2. Physical optics and applications
3. Laser optics for precision measurements
4. Optical technologies for 3D measurements


Unit 3: Dimensional Metrology, Instrument, and Measurement Standards
This unit covers the fundamental knowledge of precision dimensional measurement, common dimensional measurement instruments, nano-scale metrology technology and instruments, and measurement standards. It aims to equip participants with in-depth understanding of the various state-of-the-art techniques and to introduce practical tools that are universally used in dimensional measurement.

The unit will start off with introductory topics such as fundamentals to precision measurements followed by basic principles of various commonly used precision measurements techniques and tools. The measurement uncertainty management, measurement calibration, and relevant measurement standards are also covered to equip the participants with the knowledge and capability to interpret the measurement results. The knowledge acquired through this unit will be further reinforced with the followed practical sessions.

Course Outline
1. Precision measurements and uncertainty
2. Dimensional metrology, calibration and standards
3. Common dimensional measurement instruments
4. Precision machine metrology
5. Nano metrology technologies


Unit 4: Industrial Vision Inspection and Measurements
The unit teaches basic skills in digital image processing and vision inspection technology, which include vision system configuration, imaging hardware, optics & lighting, 2D image processing, colour image processing and image processing based measurements. More advanced skills such as X-ray image processing, 3D image processing are also covered. Machine vision system design and development knowledge for five actual cases in electronics, medical and precision engineering will be elaborated in case studies.

Participants will gain competence on using digital camera, optical lens and illumination to build an imaging system; knowledge in 2D and 3D image processing to interpret the images automatically; skills in building up a vision system for machine vision inspection of defects and measurement of dimensions in PE, Medtech, Electronics and Aerospace industries. The course is suitable for Chief Technology Officers, Project Managers, Technical Support Engineers and Application Programmers.

Course Outline
1. Digital imaging devices
2. 2D image processing
3. Measurements in digital images
4. Image processing based 3D measurements and 3D image processing
5. 2D/3D X-ray image processing
6. Vision system design and development


Unit 5: Materials Characterisation
The techniques of materials charaterisation will be grouped, where possible, under the properties of materials to be measured. The contents covered in this unit depict a wide range of analytical instruments of practical importance for the manufacturing industry. Many of these instruments are state-of-the-art in the respective areas. These instruments include low-vacuum scanning electron microscope, spectroscopic ellipsometer, atomic force microscope, thermoanalytical instruments and nano-indentation testing system.

Materials characterisation has wide applications in the manufacturing industry. Common applications range from quality control, materials and process development, process trouble shooting and failure analysis.

Course Outline
1. Mechanical properties and testing
2. Microstructural characterisation
3. Chemical properties and instrumental chemical analysis
4. Optical properties and characterisation
5. Thermal properties and analysis


Unit 6: Solar Cell Inspection and Measurements
This is an advanced unit that is designed specifically to master inspection and measurement technologies for solar cell manufacturing. The course provides basic understanding of the solar industry and inspection requirements, followed by an analysis of the state-of-the-art technologies such as IR sensing, X-ray imaging, colour inspection and their applications for solar cell quality assurance.

The unit will help the participants to integrate their learning from the previous units and apply to a specific industry application. It can also be an independent module as it will cover the basics from the previous units.

Course Outline
1. Introduction of solar energy industry and insepction requirements
2. State-of-the-art solar inspection systems and technologies
3. Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T)
4. Fundamentals of precision measurement and metrology
5. Engineering optics and physical optics
6. Advanced image processing for solar wafer (camera caliberation, sensor fusion and stitching statistical
    image processing and subpixelling measurement in digital images)
7. 2D surface inspection technologies
8. Colour image processing for solar wafer
9. SWIR and IR inspection of solar wafer
10. X-ray imaging and solar panel internal defect inspection
11. Machine vision systems for industrial applications: design and development

[ Course Schedule ]
Click for schedule

[ Admission requirements & Course duration ]
 • Applicants should posses a degree in any discipline or a diploma with a minimum 3 years
    of related working experience and a written and oral proficiency in the English Language. 
 • One-year part-time course consists of 5 course units
 • Two evening per week from 6:30pm to 9:30pm
 
[ Course fee ]
• Singaporeans and Permanent Residents are entitled to enjoy 70% funding from Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA)
• S$15,000.00 for Full Graduate Diploma (Before GST & Funding)

[ How to apply ]
Click to apply
Application for the Third intake is now open.
Third Intake will commence on 1 September 2011.

Please email your CV and academic certifications to pe-wsq@SIMTech.a-star.edu.sg

[ Contact person ]
Dr Fang Zhong Ping
Tel: 6793 8269
Email: zpfang@SIMTech.a-star.edu.sg

>> Click here to download brochure.