The 1st edition of the PIC Challenge Day took place on 25 June at Técnico – Oeiras campus, showcasing the top projects developed by final-year students of the Undergraduate Programme in Industrial Engineering and Management (LEGI) at Técnico, under the 1st Cycle Integrative Project (PIC 1) curricular unit.
The winning project “Optimization and Standardization Study of a Workstation in Terms of Safety, Ergonomics and Productivity” focused on the ergonomic evaluation of three industrial workstations using the REBA (Rapid Entire Body Assessment) method. The team proposed improvement measures with direct impact on workers’ safety, comfort, and productivity.
“It was really interesting that the projects had such diversity. We didn’t just focus on consulting, we also tackled industry and more abstract topics like culture. It pushed us beyond the usual coursework and helped us train for the real world”, said Beatriz Tomé, a final-year student and a member of the winning team.
Tomás Carvalho, another final-year student, stressed the importance of this experience: “I thought it was a cool initiative, it gave more feedback to the groups, encouraged competition, and motivated everyone to do their best to be among the selected teams”. He also noted, “it’s great for companies to come and know more about what is being done in the Undergraduate Programme in Industrial Engineering and Management. Presenting our projects in front of so many people was a challenge, and a fantastic experience”.
With the aim of bridging the gap between academia and industry, the initiative sought to encourage the practical application of skills acquired during training in response to real challenges. According to professor Tânia Pinto Varela, coordinator of LEGI, this 1st edition was “a starting point in promoting a closer link between students and organisations”, stressing the importance of the applied component in the academic pathway.
The projects reflected a wide range of themes in which the students applied the knowledge they had acquired, addressing real challenges in the fields of industrial processes, health services, environmental sustainability and energy transition. The diversity of themes highlighted the ability to articulate theory and practice in multidisciplinary environments.
The selected teams were chosen based on the quality and impact of their projects. Students delivered 10-minute pitches before a jury composed of representatives from Kearney – a member of Técnico Partner Network – and Kaizen Institute, as well as LEGI faculty. After each pitch, a discussion followed, dedicated to clarifying technical and strategic aspects.
