Data Analysis and Design Optimization in Industrial Product Development: How to Bring Real-life into the Classroom

The transmission, improvement and knowledge transfer are the priority areas of University core activity. To achieve excellence in these areas, requires high levels of specialization and consequently the inter-relationships between academic and professionals worlds acquire special importance and mutual understanding of what we do in both areas is essential. Based on the experience in knowledge and technology transfer projects, and the information gathered from the literature (publications, regulations and rules), we have identify areas of interest, needs and constraints. Integrating this information, we have structured a proposal academic strength, which in contrast to the classic, differs significantly in approach but not in the program. According to a "route map" of the product design development process, we identified and defined process activities, established the objective, scope and sub-activities for each one and finally, we have set the sequence of activities. Trying to brought reality to the classroom (reducing bias caused by excessive basic research orientation) has allowed us to capture further the interest of the students and consequently improve academic outcomes. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/).