Dock Pit Forming System

Last summer, while working for ITW Commercial Construction North America (CCNA), I worked on CCNA's new product engineering team to develop a dock pit forming system for CCNA’s flatwork brand, PNA. I took this project from its early stages and developed a fully functional proof-of-concept prototype during this summer internship.

Summary

What:

• Reduce the number of days it takes for a contractor to form a dock pit

• Eliminate two additional days of pouring concrete​

• Help commercial construction jobs stay on schedule

How:

• Designed with SolidWorks

• Used data from customer interviews to inform design decisions

• Used FEA to determine structural design and optimize cost of product

Result:

• Created design with easy installation, one-step pour, leave-in-place formwork, and an included rebar cage

• Designed to reduce cracking and need for contractor callbacks

Skill: Product Development

Creating this product was my first opportunity to experience the product development process from start to finish, and to have complete ownership over a project with a crucial business impact. I gained real-world experience in using customer interviews to inform design decisions, balancing the needs of various project stakeholders, and delivering a final product on time and within-budget. I was exposed to manufacturing processes and prototyping.