I currently work in the industry as a manufacturing engineer and I am primarily focused on Design Control. Before starting this job, I had very little understanding of the industry. When I first started, my coworkers and management tossed around words like validation, verification, design control, DMR, DHF all the time and I had to pick up on concepts and ask MANY questions. Most of my day-to day responsibilities and how to execute them I learned on the job. I think it would have been very beneficial to have some understanding of design control before entering the industry.
I learned HOW to do my job when I got there, but everyday I am still trying to uncover the WHY. What does the FDA mandate that makes the company structure processes/procedures the way they do?
I don’t believe that that 30/70 is a horrible ratio at a Masters level but I do think that NJIT should 1) increase the number of “practical” courses for undergrads 2) challenge more professors other than Dr. Simon to develop “practical” courses and 3) incorporate “practical” lessons within current curriculums.
My undergrad and graduate career has been full of technical design projects, group projects, research and technical writing. I think it would be a great for students to get more exposure to industry related projects such as stepping through the design control process.