More categories

The goal of the Corporate Design Category is to encourage undergraduate engineering students to use their ingenuity and education to tackle a genuine problem faced by practicing engineers in their daily work. In industry, the engineer is responsible to investigate problems and design cost effective solutions. In this category, competitors must analyze and design a solution to a problem faced by a recognized corporation operating in Canada. Winning entries will combine originality, technical and economic feasibility, and a high quality presentation and exhibit.

View OEC 2005 Corporate Design Topics

Entrance Requirements

One (1) team per school consisting of up to four (4) people may be accepted into the Corporate Design category.

A team may enter Corporate Design by one of two methods:

Method 1: Select a problem from the OEC list

• A team may attempt one of the problems in the Corporate Design Package, which is compiled each year by the OEC Organizing Committee (To be available by late September or early October). The package contains problems currently faced by several recognized corporations operating in Canada.
• A team is required to contact the corporation that submitted the problem for more information pertaining to the required solution.
• A maximum of two (2) teams may enter a solution to any one problem. Students are advised that the company that submitted the problem may wish to retain rights to the design.

Method 2: Find a problem

• A team may solicit an engineering problem from a company on their own or they may wish to enter work done for a thesis or during a work term. Any design problem submitted must be from a recognized corporation operating in Canada and the team must obtain written declaration from the corporation giving permission for the team to enter and display the work in OEC. The OEC Organizing Committee may contact the company to validate the problem. Students are advised that the company that submitted the problem may wish to retain rights to the design.
• In addition, the team must prepare a one (1) page problem description summarizing the problem at hand. The problem description will be reviewed by the OEC Organizing Committee to assess the suitability of the problem for inclusion in Corporate Design and will be given to the judges for information prior to the start of judging.

Each team is required to submit a one (1) page abstract that summarizes their design. The abstract will be reviewed by the OEC Organizing Committee to assess the suitability of the design for inclusion in Corporate Design and will be given to the judges for information prior to the start of judging.

Competitors are also required to forward a copy of the design solution report and any findings to the company submitting the problem.

Category Format

Teams in Corporate Design are required to set up an exhibit in a trade show style booth and present an oral presentation at the competition.

The exhibit should display the design in a clear, concise, well-organized, informative, and professional manner. Project drawings and technical and economic analysis reports should be part of the display. Display of a prototype or model to demonstrate the feasibility of the design is strongly recommended. During public viewing hours, the exhibit must be staffed by at least one team member in order to answer questions.

For the trade show style booth, competitors will be given:

• Setup time on the Friday evening of the competition
• One table and tablecloth (size TBA)
• One display board if desired (size TBA)
• Other furniture and audio-visual equipment available by request

For the presentation, competitors will be given:

• Access to a data projector (with computer or laptop connection available) and overhead projector
• Max. ten (10) minutes to setup prior to their presentation
• Max. fifteen (15) minutes to present. The oral presentation should summarize the technical, market, and economic analysis and demonstrate the design to the judges and the general public.
• A five (5) minute question period will follow the presentation during which the judges and the general public will be allowed to ask questions, with priority given to the judges' questions.

Please note that time constraints may be subject to change. In the event that a sufficient number of teams enter Corporate Design, the teams will be split into two groups each with its own distinct panel of judges. The top four semi-finalist teams from each group will then be required to repeat their presentation for the other panel of judges. After the judging, both panels of judges will combine and select first, second, and third place from the eight semi-finalist teams. The Technical Excellence and Social Awareness remain open to all teams in Corporate Design regardless of whether or not they reached the semi-final round.

Judging

The most important aspects of evaluation in this category are depth of understanding of the topic, a creative solution to the company's problem, technical and economic feasibility, effective communication, and the quality of the presentation. The depth of the team's understanding of the topic will be assessed during the question period. In order to be considered for an award in this category the team must convince the judges that the design is viable and will work if implemented. The marking scheme for the Corporate Design Category is as follows:

Technical Depth and Accuracy - 20%

• Were the facts presented correct and complete?
• Was the design thoroughly analyzed?
• Did all members of the team display a strong understanding of the topic?

Meeting the Corporation's Need - 20%

• Does the design solve all aspects of the problem as stated?
• Could this design solution be implemented with minimal additional engineering work?
• Is this the best available solution for the company?
• Did the team perform work typical of practicing engineers working for the corporation?

Economic Feasibility - 15%

• Were the economics of the design evaluated?
• Is the design economically feasible?
• Is the design cost effective?
• Is the design efficient?

Originality - 15%

• Does the design differ substantially from existing designs?
• Was the solution clearly the work of the competitors?

Prototype and Model - 10%

• Was a prototype, model, or simulation developed or testing performed to prove that the design works?
• Does the prototype or model work?
• Is the prototype or model of professional quality?
• Was the prototype or model demonstrated during the presentation?

Presentation and Exhibit - 20%

• Were the benefits and principles of the design clearly explained?
• Was time used appropriately?
• Did all team members participate equally in the presentation?
• Were the audio-visual aids used appropriately?
• Was the exhibit well organized and of professional quality?

Competitors will be assessed a penalty for not having the exhibit set up on time, not presenting within the allotted time frame, and/or not having at least one team member available to answer questions during exhibition hours.

Awards

1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards TBD. Special Awards available in this category are:

• Technical Excellence Award
• Social Awareness Award

More categories