Teaching the Concept of Total Design
Abstract When the engineering students graduate and are about to enter the “real world of engineering” — be it an engineering industry (as a coop or as an engineer), or return to an educational institution for further studies, they must appreciate and possibly be already familiar with the concept of “Total Design of the Mechanical System”. This means that the students be given excellent training before they graduate, to fulfil the current and the future needs of an industry. This paper presents the methodology adopted by the author based on his own experience as a consultant to an industry, in teaching 2 different design courses at the Michigan Technological University. The feedback obtained (from time to time) from the student alumni has been a totally rewarding experience.