Shape memory alloys (SMA) have been emphasized, studied and understood in the controlled world of the laboratory. Any attempt to implement one of these alloys in engineered products requires a jump from the controlled world of the laboratory to the actual environment of the application. The first step is to move from single grain specimens to multigrain samples. One works with a material for which any stock is different from that previously available. This paper reviews the milestones in the familiarization process the authors had to overcome during their cooperation within a project funded by the European Union. The main items cover transformation temperatures, thermal treatment and properties understanding.