1. Senior Capstone Design
Project Learning
Senior Capstone Design

2. What is “Project Learning”?
How to Make…? IT

3. Project Learning is Part of a Process
Product development is the process
Great results don’t happen by accident
Accidents happen without a process
Project Learning
Roadmap
Conceptual Design / Prototyping
Detailed Design
Fabrication Validation
Product

4. Goals for Project Learning
Clear picture and shared consensus of project outcome
Clearly and specifically know when project is done and good
Create the knowledge and skills required to produce a design that is done and good
You Are Here!
Project Learning
Roadmap
Conceptual Design / Prototyping
Detailed Design
Fabrication Validation
Product

5. Importance of Project Learning
Opportunity to be Innovative
Cost of Change
(Mistakes)
Project Timeline
Project Learning
Roadmap
Conceptual Design / Prototyping
Detailed Design
Fabrication Validation
Product

6. Keys to Customer Satisfaction
Positive Customer Satisfaction
Negative Customer Satisfaction
Broadly defined project
Idea generation
Problem definition
High level engineering analysis
Detailed design
Design refinement
Experts Spend a Lot of Time Here!
Project learning adds value (Jain and Sobek, Atman)

7. Three Areas of Project Learning
People
User groups
Focus groups
Ride-Alongs
Product
Competitive Analysis
Observations
Dissection
Technology
Experimentation
Prototyping
Math Models

8. Identify Stakeholders and Experts
Stakeholders have interest in new product creation
Identify these people early
Tap into their knowledge
Jump into their shoes
Experts have specific knowledge
Ask them about products, processes, and technologies
Identify what help you need
Identify where to focus efforts
Who are your stakeholders?
People

9. Interview Stakeholders
Groups to individuals
Focus on needs and constraints
Find out “what” not “how”
Interviewees focus on solutions and experiences
You will have to tease out the needs
People

10. Teasing Out the Needs The 5 Whys Root Cause Analysis The “problem”.
My car won’t start.
The battery is dead.
Alternator doesn’t work.
Belt is broken.
Belt is old.
Car has not been maintained regularly.
Root Cause!
People

11. Do you have a list of at least 20 good questions for your client?
Interview Guidelines
Watch for things that aren’t said.
A simple requirement can be overlooked
Watch for things that are said.
Is it clear?
Communicate back to customer
Watch for priorities.
Must do, should do, would be nice
Prioritize complete needs list
Let the user/client talk.
Follow up for clarification  5 whys?
Be prepared with a list of questions.
Do you have a list of at least 20 good questions for your client?
People

12. What needs does your project have in each of these areas?
Areas of Need
Functional performance
Human factors/interface
Physical requirements
Reliability
Life-cycle use
Manufacturing requirements
What needs does your project have in each of these areas?
People

13. Conduct an Observation
People often do not
realize opportunities,
realize their problems, or
communicate all needs
Apply anthropological techniques
Document activities
Characterize user types
Characterize value to user
People

14. Observe the Process First Hand
People

15. Empathetic Activities
First-hand experience is a great way to grow understanding
Use the product
Perform the process
Experience the hardship!
“Ride-along”
How will you interact with and understand your client’s concerns?
People

16. Comparable Products Teardown competitive products
Learn all you can about the pieces and parts
Establish benchmark of performance
Estimate competitors cost
Who is your competition? What are their strengths? What are their weaknesses?
Product

17. Marketplace Acceptance
Know how your competitor is viewed
Know how your customer makes decisions
What is important?
What is not important?
What unique value do you bring?
Every project has a customer. Who is yours? What do they value?
Product

18. Technology
“…if … it would be possible to practice by the hour instead of by the second there would be hope of advancing the solution of a very difficult problem…and without any serious danger.” – Wilber and Oroville Wright
The Wright brothers predecessors and peers were spending many hours designing and about 2 seconds testing.
Technology

19. Experimentation and modeling
Gain clarity in…
relevant physical phenomenon
create math models
relate them to experiments
Determine what can be validated
And test, test, test
What simple test or math model can you use today to learn more about your project?
Technology

20. Research Identify core technologies
What potential directions exist for a solution
Conduct web searches, patent searches, existing documentation
Scan vendor catalogs for enabling technology
What don’t you know?
Technology

21. Become familiar with relevant codes/standards
Understand governing standards
Consult with experts to get a handle on relevant codes
Summarize relevant material in a manner that is easily digestible by teammates
Technology