Product Development and Manufacturing Center at Oakland University

Perhaps more than any other field, a successful engineering education mandates that engineering students be capable of application of knowledge in a business environment. The ability to apply engineering knowledge in a "real-world" engineering environment is difficult to teach in a traditional classroom setting. In recognition of this dynamic, Oakland University in conjunction with Deloitte Consulting has established the Product Development and Manufacturing (PDM) Center at Oakland University. This paper describes the ways that the PDM Center is being used to support an engineering curriculum that provides a student with both engineering theory and application knowledge. The paper highlights the "virtual company" that the PDM Center employs in all training and educational offerings. Finally the paper describes a unique partnership arrangement the PDM Center has with a number of automotive enterprises which facilitate the development of a superior engineering educational experience.