Integrating the Product Realization Process Into the Design Curriculum: Ten Years of Experience and Evolution

This paper outlines many of our experiences in the implementation and evolution of the Product Realization Process (PRP) in industry sponsored capstone team design projects. In 1996 we started with 6 projects from 3 companies. We now implement over 50 projects per year. The total number of companies that have sponsored projects is now over 70. This paper will address the following: • The focal point for bringing in projects from industry is the Design and Manufacturing Clinic. • The use of the PRP as the method of developing new products and processes. • The enhancement of the conceptual design process to emphasize innovation. • The effectiveness of various decision analysis methods. • The emphasis and time allocation on each of the phases in the product realization process. • The evolution from a single discipline (mechanical engineering) to a multidiscipline effort. • The introduction of management, team building and cost estimating. • The migration from a one semester course to a two semester sequence. • The cultivation of industry sponsors. • The roles of the faculty and industry mentors.