EESC-USP Formula SAE Team

Luís Augusto Franciosi

Optional Essay

Applicant for MIT MBA Class 2015

Formula SAE

SAE INTERNATIONAL Established in 1905 Scientific and educational

organization, nonprofit Dedicated to spreading

knowledge and techniques related to mobile technology

It has more than 128,000 members including engineers, businessmen, teachers and students

Presented in more than 97 countries

FORMULA SAE COMPETITION University category,

founded in 1981 Goal: To complement the

education of engineering students

7 competitions in 6 countries

MIT team also participates in competitions

Competition requires technological development, research and competitiveness

PROJECT FEATURES Design of a product, not

only a prototype Daily production of 4 units Maximum production

cost: U.S. $ 25 000 Target market group:

 non-professional weekend autocross racer

Four-stroke engine of 610 cc

High performance in acceleration, braking, handling and comfort

Reliable and easy to maintain

• 2003

• 2004

• 2005

• 2006

• 2007

06/2003

Team establishment

05/2005

Formula SAE Competition –

Detroit

06/2004

I joined the team

06/2005

I became the leader of the team

06/2006

I left the team

Time line

11/2004

I Formula SAE Brazilian

Competition

Champion

10/2005

II Formula SAE Brazilian

Competition

Champion

05/2006

Formula SAE Competition –

Detroit

Top 15% in two categories:

14th – Project Presentation

18th – Costs

Intake system I designed and constructed, working as an

engineer

The challenges I started in the motor group, designing an

innovative intake system When I became the leader, I knew that, to

achieve more expressive results, I needed to transform the team from a small student group to a team structured like a company. To do so, I faced many challenges, such as: To keep people motivated on a project that

was voluntary and required great dedication To negotiate with the university scarce

resources - as the group was relatively new, it had not the necessary support from the University in terms of infrastructure, computers and tools

To organize the group with clear roles and responsibilities

To get sponsorships (in Brazil, by that time, something quite challenging)

Team main results when I was the leader

Team before my leadership Team after my leadership

Champion of I Formula SAE Brazilian Competition (2004)

Champion of II Formula SAE Brazilian Competition (2005)

No relevant positions in USA Formula SAE Competition (2005)

Top 15% in two categories in USA Formula SAE Competition (2006)

12 members without clear roles and responsibilities

50 members with clear roles and responsibilities

1 Professor engaged 8 Professors engaged

Makeshift workshop / poor resources Definite workshop / better resources

Sponsorship: US$ 30 thousand Sponsorship: US$ 60 thousand

Team Organizational Structure

The Team

Me

II Brazilian Formula SAE Competition’s

trophy

The result of the competition was published in several newspapers

II Brazilian Formula SAE Competition’s podium

“We worked hard to achieve this result”, celebrated the team leader, Luís Augusto

Franciosi.

I published the paper "Entrepreneurship in EESC-USP Formula

SAE Team," describing how I led the team

from a small student group to a team structured like a

company and how this change was decisive for the obtained results