Abstract This paper aims at conducting an analysis the competences of production engineering graduates, building on an industry view. To this end, we conducted a survey addressing 103 medium and large companies within the Brazilian manufacturing industry. The results suggest that companies do recognize the importance of competences. Some gaps in the competences of graduates were also pointed out by respondents. This study suggests the need for the development of efforts for providing the production engineer with a better professional background. The links between university and industry are likely to contribute towards such direction, notably as a starting point for institutions and industries to foster their student’s competences, aiming their aptitude for an ever-competitive job market, which values the flexible, creative being, who is capable of creating innovative solutions.

Grinding is one of the most widely used manufacturing processes and, in the last few decades, has developed considerably. An example of these developments is hardening by grinding, an operation that is being studied to provide an option to the conventional hardening processes. This study presents the use of a cylindrical grinding process to produce a martensitic structure on the surface of SAE 4340 steel workpieces, and aims at adjusting the parameters of this process. To do much, a set of experiments were carried out using three cycles of grinding: the first one just to obtain a workpiece with regular diameter; the second cycle is that which will provide heating and cooling of the ground workpiece; and the last cycle is to provide corrections to the dimensions and roughness. Results of the experiments showed that hardening by grinding is possible and that the workpiece achieved hardness levels compatible to those provided by the conventional hardening processes. The use of such a process for surface hardening purposes has been researched and developed with a view to increasing the productivity of the process, ensuring dimensional and surface quality, in addition to mechanical resistance.