Design Processes

Theme Coordinator
Dr. Steve Lambert, University of Waterloo

One of the biggest trends in the auto industry is the shift in responsibility for design and manufacturing processes from the automakers to the auto parts suppliers. It is becoming increasingly important that supplier companies have the knowledge and procedures in place to meet these new tasks.

Theme E focuses on these design processes - how to develop comprehensive design methodologies and tools for rapid vehicle component design, and how to develop highly qualified design engineers for careers in this field.

Projects in Theme E aim to document current practices within the auto-parts industry and using a variety of techniques, share these results with other researchers and the industry itself. It will also improve existing design methodologies and techniques and introduce new ones.