Category Archives: PUD

Problem Understanding Document

PUD Cover Page

1     General

Make no changes to the cover page with the exception of adding a logo (optional) as described below.  Likewise, you should make NO changes to the headers on all other pages of the provided template document.

2     Corrections Needed?

Now, please give the entire cover page a thorough and careful proofreading and email the SCD program director with any corrections needed.  They will be recorded to avoid the same errors for the rest of the project.

3     Logo

Referring to the bottom-left corner of the cover page, you may include a logo as you wish.  With permission from your customer only, you can use their logo.  If your customer (company, organization, or individual) is of the sort that does not have a logo, you can create one for your team if you wish, but by no means is this required nor will it score you points.

If no logo, click on the logo placeholder image to select it, then hit the delete key.  To insert a logo, right-click on the logo placeholder image and select Replace image ► [select appropriate source] from the popup menu.  Select the new image from its source location.  Then…

  • If the image is clipped on the top and bottom, skip to the next sub-bullet. If the image is clipped on the left and right, right-click on the new image and select Reset image from the popup menu.  Then, to reposition it at the bottom margin, with the image selected, click on “Fix position on page” and select Position options, which will show them to the right.  Then scroll through the “Quick layouts” settings to the “Bottom left” icon and select it.
  • If the image is clipped on the top and bottom, right-click on the new image and select Reset image from the popup menu. Then, to reposition it at the bottom margin, with the image selected click on “Fix position on page” and select Position options, which will show them to the right.  Then scroll through the “Quick layouts” settings to the “Bottom left” icon and select it.  You will likely need to then expand “Size and rotation” section, make sure lock aspect ratio is checked, and change the “Height” to 2.5 inches.
© 2017, William J. Endres Updated September 07, 2022

Individual Research Document (IRD)

1     Organization and Formatting

1.1    General

  • This is your sandbox, or canvas, for laying out information in a concise, logical manner.
  • Organize/group information into boxes, providing each box with an appropriate title.
  • Size and arrange boxes as you wish.
  • Use the styles provided, in particular, stick to Times New Roman 12-pt font for the majority of the written content.

1.2    Specifics

  • Include the following on a single B-Sheet; you (each team member) are allowed one sheet of content
    • Identification: Enter your initials in the “by” box at the upper right of the header (replacing the placeholder “FML”).
    • Date: Enter the date of latest update in the “on” box at the upper right of the header (replacing the placeholder “mm/dd/yy”).
  • References should be listed on the second B-Sheet. It is two-column for future use/expansion; it is not anticipated you will need the whole sheet or even a whole column.  IEEE format is to be used with numbering as [FML##] according to the following:
    • FML is your First, Middle and Last initials (e.g., William J. Endres is WJE)
    • ## is a two-digit sequential number (e.g., 01, 02, 03, …, 10, 11, …).
    • For example, my reference numbering would be [WJE01], [WJE02], [WJE03], …, [WJE10], [WJE11], …. You can continue with this reference numbering as each team member identifies new references throughout the course of the project.
    • Further information on references can be found in the Doc-Prep Guidance — Getting Started section, subsection 4, References.
  • All figures should have a caption and be numbered as FML.# (e.g., WJE.1, WJE.2, …, WJE.10, WJE.11).

2     Content Presentation

2.1    General

  • Depending on your team’s strategy and what areas of background research have been allocated to you, logically organize your findings into boxes having text and graphics.
  • Use graphics (photographs, illustrations, sketches, etc.) liberally (i.e., plentifully) for clarity. Clarity implies that graphics should be annotated to highlight specific visual information of interest.
  • Keep descriptions/notes concise, but also thorough, making liberal use of bullet point lists and short paragraphs (2-3 sentences) rather than long paragraphs.
  • Make use of at least ten unique references.

2.2    Specifics

  • When presenting your perspective (in the one pre-titled box) on the history and nature of the problem, be concise and focus on what led your customer to initiate this project, which should dig down into the root of the problem at hand, the pain or gain that is of interest to your customer.
  • When covering products/processes that accomplish similar but possibly different results, from the same or other industries, patents can be a huge source of information and should not be overlooked. Patents can provide design ideas to pursue, or design ideas not to pursue (as it would be infringing), and often both.
  • When covering the key scientific/engineering concepts and methods that may be relevant to the design work. Go beyond an understanding at a less technical level to consider how equations (mathematical models) and experimental testing/trials that you have learned (in classes or more likely through additional research) may apply.

3     Examples of Great Work

Do a great job and be Example #2!

Example

© 2017, William J. Endres Updated August 31, 2017