- Design: A project may involve the analysis and presentation of data, cycle time analysis, simulation, optimization, determining standards, documenting process flow, etc., but by themselves, these contributions do not constitute a design project. A design project must include a recommendation for a change to a system and an economic analysis of the cost and benefit of the proposed change(s).
- ISyE Methodology: The project must require the use of significant tools and methods learned in the ISyE curriculum. Building a tool (e.g., a simple spreadsheet) for an engineer or a manager to use might be quite valuable for a company, but it must contain ideas and/or methods of ISyE in order to meet the methodology requirements.
- Value: Each team member is expected to spend a minimum of 12 productive hours per week on the project or over 1,000 hours per team over the semester. Therefore, expected value to the client must be at least what they would pay for 1000 hours of consulting time. The scope and difficulty must also be appropriate for 1000 hours of work.
Tips for Successful Projects:
- Go into Senior Design prepared to work. This course is hard but will provide firsthand experience at solving real-world problems in a team environment.
- Choose a client who agrees to take on the responsibility of providing your team the necessary information and access in a timely manner.
- Keep the project’s big picture in mind. How will it provide value to the project clients? Express analyses and benefits from the project client’s perspective.
- Spend as much time at the project client site as possible – learn their business and operations first-hand.
- A necessary condition for a successful project is that your client is happy with your work; however, because Senior Design is an academic course, it is also necessary to satisfy the requirements of design, methodology, value, professionalism, etc.
- Stretch – don’t be afraid to learn something new and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. That’s how you learn, which is what this course is all about.
- Listen to your faculty advisor and respect his/her knowledge and experience.
- Read “Advice from Previous Students”. Also, read what past project clients have said about their experiences working with Senior Design Teams on the “Project Client Testimonials" page.
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