← Design and Manufacture syllabus

ScotlandDesign and Manufacture

Materials and Manufacture

7 dot points across 7 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How are products protected and finished, and how are their parts joined together?

Surface finishes and methods of joining: finishes applied to timbers, metals and polymers and why they are used, and permanent and temporary fixings and fittings, including knock-down fittings.
An SQA Higher Design and Manufacture answer on surface finishes and methods of joining, covering finishes for timbers, metals and polymers and why they are applied, and permanent and temporary fixings and fittings including knock-down fittings used in flat-pack products.
11 min answer →

What effects do design and manufacturing have on society, the environment and the workforce, and how can a designer reduce the harm?

The impact of design and manufacturing technologies on society, the environment and the workforce: sustainability and the six Rs, resource use and waste, planned obsolescence, and the effects of automation and global manufacture on workers.
An SQA Higher Design and Manufacture answer on the impact of design and manufacturing technologies on society, the environment and the workforce, covering sustainability and the six Rs, resource use and waste, planned obsolescence, and the effects of automation and global manufacture on workers.
12 min answer →

Which processes shape plastics, metals and timbers into products, and how does a designer choose the right one?

Manufacturing processes for shaping materials: moulding and forming processes for polymers, casting and forming processes for metals, and cutting, shaping and joining for timbers, and matching a process to the material, form and scale of production.
An SQA Higher Design and Manufacture answer on manufacturing processes, covering moulding and forming of polymers (injection moulding, vacuum forming, blow moulding), casting and forming of metals, and shaping and joining of timbers, and how a designer matches a process to the material, the form and the scale of production.
13 min answer →

How do ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals and alloys differ, and how does a designer choose the right metal for a product?

Metals used in product design: ferrous and non-ferrous metals and alloys, their key properties (strength, hardness, ductility, malleability, conductivity, corrosion resistance, cost) and how those properties guide material choice.
An SQA Higher Design and Manufacture answer on metals, covering ferrous and non-ferrous metals and alloys, their key properties such as strength, ductility, conductivity and corrosion resistance, and how a designer matches a metal to the demands of a product.
12 min answer →

How do thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics differ, and how does a designer choose the right polymer for a product?

Polymers used in product design: thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics, their key properties (formability, strength, toughness, durability, finish, cost) and how those properties guide material choice.
An SQA Higher Design and Manufacture answer on polymers, covering thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics, their key properties such as formability, toughness and durability, common examples and uses, and how a designer matches a polymer to the demands of a product.
12 min answer →

How does the number of products to be made change how they are manufactured, and what systems keep them consistent?

Scales of production and manufacturing systems: one-off (job), batch and mass or continuous production, and the systems that support them - standardisation, tolerance, jigs and templates, and CAD/CAM.
An SQA Higher Design and Manufacture answer on scales of production and manufacturing systems, covering one-off, batch and mass or continuous production, when each is used, and the systems that keep products consistent such as standardisation, tolerance, jigs and templates, and CAD/CAM.
12 min answer →

How do hardwoods, softwoods and manufactured boards differ, and how does a designer choose the right timber for a product?

Timbers used in product design: natural hardwoods and softwoods and manufactured boards, their key properties (strength, hardness, durability, workability, finish, cost) and how those properties guide material choice.
An SQA Higher Design and Manufacture answer on timbers, covering natural hardwoods and softwoods and manufactured boards, their key properties such as strength, durability, workability and cost, and how a designer matches a timber to the demands of a product.
12 min answer →