Could innovation be taught as a university course?
The Mechanical Innovations Course at UNC Charlotte
Could innovation be taught as a university course? Well, Frank Skinner thought so and approached his department chairman, Dr. Jay Raja, with a course outline. The first Mechanical Innovation course was taught in the fall of 2004.
In Mechanical Innovations, he expands the creative side of the mechanical design process and teaches students how to design a product that meets the demands of the new world market. Marketing is emphasized in Mechanical Innovation and Dana Lanham from the College of Business, Department of Marketing assists by lecturing these engineering students on marketing skills and strategy.
In the summer of 2005, Skinner met with Matt Popik, Vice President of Irwin Industrial Tools. Matt was very interested in reviewing the creative student projects. Thus, the student projects were linked with the product needs at Irwin Tools. Late in October, 2005, Mr. Popik attended a presentation and commented positively on the students project work. The “Quick Lock Adjustable Wrench” caught Matt’s interest. He recommended that these students keep up the good work.
And, indeed they did! The students built a working prototype and gave this to Irwin Tools at the time they applied for a UNC Charlotte patent.
In Mechanical Innovations the students learn quality function deployment, decision-making methods, concurrent engineering, design for assembly, and Taguchi’s method for robust design. TRIZ, the Forty Inventive Principles is covered as an important tool for successful innovation. Patents, agreements, trademarks, and trade secrets are also explained, in detail, as a method for protecting an investment in creativity and innovation.
Other companies have joined Irwin in the Mechanical Innovations team this year. Hargraves Technology Corporation has need for a miniature pump and a rapid assembly machine. Stabilus, of Gastonia, NC, would like UNC Charlotte to invent a plastic gas spring.
Last week, Tom Chervenak, Engineering Director at Irwin Industrial Tools spoke at the UNC Charlotte Senior Design Breakfast and singled out the design of the Quick Lock Wrench as a positive achievement. Tom said that Irwin Tools will license the invention and put it into production! Each student will earn a royalty and have a patent number on his and her resume.
For additional information, please contact;
Frank Skinner, Director of Industrial Solutions
Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
9201 University City Boulevard
Charlotte, NC 28223-0001
Office (704) 687-8212; Cell (704) 616-0260
Email:fskinner@uncc.edu
"Innovative Education and Educational Innovation"