The executive summary of this document, in the format provided in the template (Times New Roman 12-point, 1.3 line spacing, 1-inch margins, etc. — paragraph style “Normal text” in Google Docs), should be approximately ¾ to 1 page (1 page max; be complete but you must also be selective to make it fit and not spill over to a second page!) — NO changing font size or line spacing.
As with all executive summaries, this should be written after the body of the document that it is summarizing. Here, as you are starting, very specific guidance is offered. Still, you should write it after you have a complete-draft of the body of the document. But, in doing so, it should consist of five (5) paragraphs as described below.
Here and throughout this document, and the rest of the course documents, you must realize that members of your audience outside the SCD Program do not know what the various acronyms mean, such as PUD, TAD, and PPD. It is okay to use the acronyms, but only after introducing/defining each; for instance, “In the attached Technical Archive Document (TAD)…” and later “The TAD illustrates that…” Though, introducing an acronym early on and then not using it until much later in the document is not very effective either.
1 Paragraph 1
Begin with the text included in the template, that is, “Our team has been engaged by CCCCC to XXXXX.” Here, the XXXXX placeholder should be replaced with a phrase describing in a condensed way what you have been asked to do — meet your customer’s need for a solution to a problem as they see it. The placeholder CCCCC is where you write out (identify) your customer and include any relevant specifier if (and only if) applicable. This first paragraph should continue with a few sentences (perhaps 3-5) describing the pain or gain at hand. We are engineers, so remember to be quantitative (include numbers) to the extent possible in describing the pain or gain at hand. Some examples follow. Select “CONTINUE HERE” and begin typing.
1.1 Example — Parts Cleaning
Senior Capstone Design Team 1 has been engaged by the Endruff Manufacturing Corporation (EMC) plant located in Rainyville, IL to solve a part cleaning problem. The overall problem is that the parts are coming out of the tapping machine coated with oil and chips, which interfere with downstream processes. EMC wishes to eradicate the need to transport parts to a batch cleaner after they come out of the tapping machines. After meeting with the customer and visiting the plant, it has become apparent that a driving factor is the desire to eliminate the 3,000 square feet consumed by the batch cleaner, given that the plant is land locked with limited potential for expansion. As such, each cleaning system of the developed solution must be contained in the floor space of the single tapping machine it is servicing, which is about 24 square feet. It is imperative that the end-users — machine operators — be considered and consulted given that a previous solution was never fully implemented due to difficulties experienced by the operators.
1.2 Example — Surgical Drill Attachment
Senior Capstone Design Team 2 has been engaged by JCS Instruments (JCSI) of Snowville, MI to improve an attachment interface of a surgical product. Surgical drill systems include the drill, which houses the high-speed motor, bearings, and controls, and an attachment that allows different reach distances and angles. JCSI has received numerous complaints about the force required to remove the attachment from the drill. For instance, surgical technicians have, at times, dropped the attachment on the floor due to the sudden release of the attachment from the drill when pulling them apart. Also important is that the interface provides sufficient stiffness so the surgeon, when using the drill, does not experience unacceptable vibration or static deflection when targeting regions of boney mass to be removed. En route to a solution, the extraction force and stiffness of the current interface must be determined.
2 Paragraph 2
The second paragraph of the PUD executive summary should summarize in 2-3 sentences findings of the background/domain research. Select “START HERE-EXEC2” and begin typing.
3 Paragraph 3
The third paragraph of the PUD executive summary should summarize the end-user use case(s). This should be 2-5 sentences. Some examples follow; note that some adjustment might be in order for improved flow from paragraph 2 to paragraph 3 from what is provided as examples. Select “START HERE-EXEC3” and begin typing.
3.1 Example — Parts Cleaning
The parts cleaning system use case involves the machine operator releasing accumulated parts from each of the four tapping spindles into the parts cleaner. The cleaner must not obscure the operator’s reach to the parts accumulators. The operator is also responsible for periodic emptying of byproducts — collected oil and collected chips — into respective waste disposal containers. The operator must also be able to periodically replenish the system with cleaning solution concentrate and water.
3.2 Example — Surgical Drill Attachment
End users include both surgical technicians, who are responsible for changing attachments on the drill as the surgery progresses, and the surgeon, who employs the drill system for drilling, cutting and sculpting bone. Surgical technicians are under the pressure of speed and, of course, sterility. Dropping an attachment on the floor as noted would add to the pressure and time; the longer the surgery takes the greater the cost and risks. In regard to risk, any unexpected movement of the drill bit tip due to flexing of the attachment-drill interface is undesirable at least, debilitating or fatal to the patient at worst when working close to the central nervous system.
4 Paragraph 4
The fourth paragraph of the PUD executive summary should summarize in 2-4 sentences the engineering constraints and objectives. In the interest of space, it is not necessary to cover objectives of priority less than 3. This is a place to be quantitative; include targets and limits. Some examples follow. Select “START HERE-EXEC4” and begin typing.
4.1 Example — Parts Cleaning
The current engineering requirements are as follows: the system must clean 120-200 parts per minute, it must not take up more than 1x1x6 feet of space, must not jam the vibratory feeder bowls into which parts are expelled from the cleaner, and it must meet with approval by all current machine operators.
4.2 Example — Surgical Drill Attachment
Engineering constraints include a minimum axial holding force of 5 lbf, setup time less than 3 minutes, a maximum attach/detach force of 13 lbf, required attach/detach hand-grip strength less than 14.5 lbf, an outer diameter no more than 11/16 inch, and a shaft through-hole of diameter at least 3/16 inch; furthermore, all materials used must be autoclavable. Some of the noteworthy engineering objectives include improved ease of operation by way of end-user survey, attach and detach times of less than 1.5 seconds, be intuitive enough that 100 percent of competent end-users can learn to use it without instructions, and withstand operating forces of the current model with deflections less than those of the current model.
5 Paragraph 5
The fifth and final paragraph of the PUD executive summary should conclude the summary with the main milestones of the first and second terms that are of interest to your customer. They are ones related to your definition of success at the end of each term. Indicate the approximate dates of those milestones (i.e., the end of each term); refer to the guidance on Paragraph 2 of the Project Overview for important information on how to “define” what success looks like. Clearly, this is a short one! Select “START HERE-EXEC5” and begin typing.
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| © 2017, William J. Endres | Updated September 07, 2022 |