The Master's program lasts 24 months. Classes are held on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Other research activities and practical assignments may be carried out during the operating hours of the University of Caxias do Sul.
To earn the Master's degree in Production Engineering, students must complete eight courses, which provide the integrated body of knowledge expected of graduates of the Professional Master's Program in Production Engineering. These courses also provide a foundation in the main methods applied to operations and quality management, supporting the development of the final research project and related activities. Taking into account students' diverse backgrounds, the courses address both the fundamental concepts of the program's area of concentration and the application of the scientific method in goods and services production environments.
The curriculum is therefore organized into three main conceptual areas:
The following courses support this curriculum structure:
Course description: Formulation of research problems arising from professional and organizational settings. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods applied to Production Engineering. Research strategies, development and validation of artifacts and technical and technological products. Planning, execution, and communication of scientific research. Development, monitoring, and discussion of master's thesis projects.
Course description: Integrated planning and control of production and operations systems. Management of demand, capacity, materials, and production resources. Aggregate planning, production scheduling, and sequencing. Push, pull, and hybrid systems. Integration of production planning, scheduling, and control with information systems, data, and digital technologies to support decision-making.
Course description: Quantitative methods for representing, analyzing, and solving complex problems in Production Engineering. Development of mathematical, computational, and simulation models to support decision-making. Optimization, scenario analysis, and performance evaluation of production, logistics, and organizational systems.
Course description: Foundations and methods for managing, controlling, and improving the performance of production systems. Quality, reliability, process stability, productivity, and operational excellence. Integration of statistical methods, Lean, Six Sigma, maintenance management, and contemporary approaches to continuous improvement.
Course description: Design, planning, and integrated management of physical, information, and financial flows across supply chains. Management of procurement, inventory, warehousing, transportation, and distribution. Supply chain coordination, risk management, resilience, sustainability, and digital transformation applied to logistics.
Course description: Formulation and implementation of operations strategy in manufacturing and service organizations. Alignment of competitive strategy, resources, processes, technology, and production systems. Development of operational capabilities, performance management, and assessment of the economic, social, and environmental implications of operations decisions.
Course description: Integrated management of the development of products, services, processes, and production systems. Methods for identifying opportunities, defining requirements, generating and selecting solutions, design, industrialization, and life cycle management. Integration of innovation, engineering, manufacturing, services, and digital technologies.
Course description: Digital transformation of production and operations systems. Integration of digital technologies, automation, information systems, and analytical methods to improve competitiveness and operational performance. Assessment of digital maturity and development of strategies for implementing intelligent production systems.