Industry Based Capstone Design Projects: You Can't Sell The Solution If You Can't Communicate

Industry-based capstone design projects have been used by Industrial Engineering departments since the 1960’s. The format for the project varies from institution to institution. In some cases, a course in simulation or facility layout may be the “project course”, while in other institutions a separate one or two semester course may be devoted to the capstone project. One of the constant considerations in all industry-based capstone projects is the need for the project team to clearly communicate their results to the client in writing and orally. A team may have a good solution to the client’s problem, but the quality of the written and oral presentations to the client may lack the professionalism that is required to convince the client of its validity. This paper presents an approach to improving oral communication skills using an evaluation tool that identifies potential areas for improvement. Examples of some final presentations that have resulted from this approach are included.