PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS: A PROPOSAL FOR BAJA SAE TEAMS

Purpose: proposal of an optimized Product Development Process (PDP) for Baja SAE teams, with an emphasis on improving technical performance and team management efficiency. Method/approach: the research is qualitative, adopting an exploratory and descriptive approach. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with Baja team members, direct observations, and analysis of technical documents related to the PDP. Data triangulation ensured the validity and reliability of the results by combining different sources of information. Main findings: the results indicate that the proposal of PDP can potentially lead to significant improvements in the organization and efficiency of Baja teams. The proposed model better structures the phases of product development, resulting in a more efficient and coordinated process. The application of the PDP has the potential to improve internal communication and resource management of the teams, positively impacting their performance in competitions. Theoretical practical/social contributions: the study contributes to the existing literature on product development in educational and competitive contexts, such as Baja SAE teams. The proposed model offers a structured tool for other engineering teams, enhancing performance. The research equips engineers to face complex challenges and promotes the advancement of engineering education. Originality/relevance: this study is original in proposing a PDP specifically for Baja SAE teams, an area that is underexplored in the literature. The relevance of the work lies in its potential to improve the performance of engineering teams, contributing to fairer and more innovative competitions.