Industry Design Clinic Program at CSLA
The Design Clinic was established by the School of engineering and Technology to expose its students to the reality of engineering practice. Through the industry design Clinic program, local industry and government agencies are provided opportunities to fund teams of faculty and students to work on unsolved engineering problems. Participating students have an opportunity to deepen and expand their knowledge while solving problems that matter---problems that require them to consider alternatives, exercise judgment and put the theory they have learned into practice.
The Design clinic is essentially a teaching enterprise which provides professional services to its clientele. These services, however, are expected to meet professional standards. Like the guidance of seasoned professionals-members of the School’s faculty, most of whom hold earned doctorates, and all of whom have industrial experience.
Although they are guided by faculty mentors, students are responsible for planning and concocting the work, monitoring progress, and seeing the project through to a successful conclusion.
INITIATING A CLINIC PROJECT
A student team and its faculty advisor are recruited to work on a problem area suggested by the client. Early in the effort, the team meets with the advisor and the client liaison to establish the parameters of the problem at hand. This initial phase of the project culminates in a written proposal to the client which includes a detailed statement of work and project schedule. The proposal is written by the student team and endorsed by the faculty advisor and School Research Coordinator. After further consultations, the proposal is modified as necessary and then constitutes the working plan for the duration of the project.
DESIGN CLINIC STUDENT TEAM
The team consists of three to five undergraduate and graduate students. The team selects a leader who is responsible for general planning, organizing meetings, some client contracts, financial accounting, and reporting.
The students’ participation is organized to enhance the learning experience as well as to get results. The importance of both oral and written communication skills is emphasized from the very first project organizational meeting. Each team meets as least twice weekly for discussion with its faculty advisor. Team members share the record-keeping responsibility. Each student is expected to maintain a project notebook and weekly oral or written reports are required. Regular communications between the student team and liaison person designated by the sponsor serve to promote the interchange of ideas.
There are two major written reports associated with a project: a midyear progress report and a final report at the end. both reports are written by the student team. Twice during the academic year, student orally present the project to an invited group of client representatives and guests.
After the final report has been approved, it is formally submitted to the sponsor. Any computer programs, test equipment, or prototypes developed during the project are also delivered.
CLIENT LIAISON
As the representative of the client’s needs and as a technical resource person, the client liaison engineer plays an essential and continuing role in the clinic project. The liaison communicates regularly with the faculty advisor and clinic team, making suggestions and keeping the project on track. Through interaction with the liaison during all phases of the project, students, have the “real world” experiences of setting goals, keeping within a budget, and meeting deadlines.
BENEFITS ARE MUTUAL
All participants benefit from the clinic program. First and foremost, the synergy of the industry-university relationship supports the mission of the School of Engineering and Technology: to provide a first-rate engineering education to our students. Clinic sponsors enjoy a positive, cooperative, and active involvement in the engineering education process. In addition, sponsors obtain high-quality professional assistance with current problems for a fraction of the cost that a consulting firm would charge. Clinic liaisons develop ties with promising clinic students and excellent faculty which potentially support recruitment goals for new graduates and lead to further consulting opportunities for faculty with compatible research interests.
SOME TYPICAL RECENTLY COMPLETED CLINIC PROJECTS
- Hughes Aircraft Company Support Systems Group: Development of an innovative technique for manufacturing high precision microwave filters.
- Los Angeles City Department of Water and Power: Study of electric substation grounding models to provide design criteria needed to avoid excessive step and touch voltages.
- Lucas Western Corporation: Development of software to model the impact responses of multi-degree or freedom mechanical actuator systems.
- Northrop Corporation: Design of a part handling system for use in high temperature forming processes.
- Northrop Corporation: Development of software to improve the positioning accuracy of complex computer-controlled robot manipulators.
- Southern California Edison Company: Evaluation of the technical and economic performance of a water heating heat pump.
- Southern California Gas Company: Development of a computer data acquisition system to monitor the performance of a 115KW cogeneration system.
- Steel Case Inc.: Design of an improved process steam distribution system.
THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LOS ANGELES SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
Cal State L.A. is one of 22 campuses comprising the California State University system. Located literally at the very center of Los Angeles County, Cal State L.A. offers programs in over 50 academic fields. The School of Engineering and Technology is one of six Schools within Cal State L.A. and serves approximately 2,500 students.
The School ranks as one of the West’s major centers for undergraduate and graduate study in engineering and technology. The rapid development of the engineering program reflects the continuing demand for professionally trained engineers in Southern California. Since the program’s establishment in 1951, more than 4,000 degrees in engineering have been awarded by the University; more then 200 degrees in engineering are awarded annually.
The School is organized into four departments: Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Technology. Our students pursue a curriculum that strikes a balance between heavily theoretical programs and practical, technology-oriented programs. The School is staffed by an excellent faculty of 50 full-time and 50 part-time members.
Because of its location, Cal State L.A. performs a unique role in meeting the education of Los Angeles’ ethnically diverse communities. Our School places particular emphasis on seeking out students with academic promise who face cultural, economic, and personal barriers and assisting them in reaching their greatest potential. Our Minority Engineering Program successfully works to improve the academic performance, retention and graduation rates of our African-American and Hispanic students: Cal State L.A. ranks first in California in the proportion of engineering degrees to African-American and Hispanic students.
Further information regarding the clinic and participation as a sponsor may be obtained by contacting the office of the clinic director:
Dr. Charles H. Wilcox, Director E &T Research Center
Tel: (323) 343-4476