Improving Cosmetic Quality in the Automotive Design Process

1. Improving Cosmetic Quality in the Automotive Design Process Stephen Taylor MPhil Study CAD Centre, University of Strathclyde

2. Contents Contents Background MPhil Research Context Design Process Comparison Implementing VITAL Summary • Research Background – VITAL Project • MPhil Research • Automotive Design Process Context • Comparison of Automotive Design Process against Published Design Process • Improving Cosmetic Quality – Implementing VITAL • Summary Improving Cosmetic Quality in the Automotive Design Process

3. Research Background Contents Background MPhil Research Context Design Process Comparison Implementing VITAL Summary MPhil study builds on the research conducted within VITAL project. VITAL Project is concerned with the development of tools for the Visualisation of the Impact of Tolerance ALlocation in automotive design. Funded by: Data Supplied by: Supported by: Improving Cosmetic Quality in the Automotive Design Process

4. Hardware Centred Development Software Centred Development VITAL is assessing cosmetic quality Future Product Development & VITAL Project Improving Cosmetic Quality in the Automotive Design Process

5. Overall Goal Contents Background MPhil Research Context Design Process Comparison Implementing VITAL Summary • To enable multi-disciplinary design teams • To visualise the external aspects of an automobile • Within a realistic model of the physical environment • At conceptual design stage Improving Cosmetic Quality in the Automotive Design Process

6. Cosmetic Quality Contents Background MPhil Research Context Design Process Comparison Implementing VITAL Summary • Can loosely be defined as the “Look” of the product. • How can Cosmetic Quality be consistently assessed when it has no agreed definition? • Considers Gap and flushness. • Can dramatically affect customer perception of the product. Improving Cosmetic Quality in the Automotive Design Process

7. Case Study – Rover 75 Contents Background MPhil Research Context Design Process Comparison Implementing VITAL Summary Improving Cosmetic Quality in the Automotive Design Process

8. Cosmetic Quality - Example Contents Background MPhil Research Context Design Process Comparison Implementing VITAL Summary BadGood Improving Cosmetic Quality in the Automotive Design Process

9. Real and Virtual Comparison Virtual Real Improving Cosmetic Quality in the Automotive Design Process

10. MPhil Research Contents Background MPhilResearch Context Design Process Comparison Implementing VITAL Summary • Investigate the implementation opportunities of such technology within both published and applied design/development processes. • Compare general published design process models with those applied within the automotive industry. • Consider the potential cosmetic quality improvements and business benefits of such technology. Improving Cosmetic Quality in the Automotive Design Process

11. Design Process Context Contents Background MPhil Research Context Design Process Comparison Implementing VITAL Summary • Two automotive companies targeted for case studies • Rover • Jaguar • Investigate the automotive design/development process adopted in terms of, • The stages of the process • Roles and responsibilities • Information flows • Related component/design sub-processes • Departmental structure Improving Cosmetic Quality in the Automotive Design Process

12. BUSINESS TEMPLATE PRODUCT TEMPLATE PRODUCT SELECTION D-ZERO D-02 D-1 VOLUME 0 1 2 3 B C D E Target Review Strategy & Planning Concept Definition Concept Development Concept Confirmation Design Development Validation Maturation Product Vision Rover Design/Development Improving Cosmetic Quality in the Automotive Design Process

13. Design Process Model Comparison Contents Background MPhil Research Context DesignProcessComparison Implementing VITAL Summary Compare applied design process models (Jaguar & Rover) with accepted design process models. • Similarities, irregularites • Where and when is cosmetic quality assessed • Stages, tasks where VITAL could be applied Improving Cosmetic Quality in the Automotive Design Process

14. Implementing VITAL Contents Background MPhil Research Context Design Process Comparison ImplementingVITAL Summary Evaluating VITAL highlighted the following issues: • Concern about the number of processes & software tools that would be needed to be integrated. • How and where would these processes and tools would be integrated within the automotive design/development process. MPhil study should: • Recommend an implementation plan for VITAL. • State the areas where VITAL will impact upon in order to drive product cosmetic quality. Improving Cosmetic Quality in the Automotive Design Process

15. Summary Contents Background MPhil Research Context Design Process Comparison Implementing VITAL Summary The potential benefits of VITAL are: • Business Case • Design process impact • Shortened lead times • More centralised design teams • Earlier consideration of tolerances • Reduced costs • Less design re-work • Less physical prototypes • Training, process re-organisation • Cosmetic Quality • Customer Perception • Higher Build Quality Improving Cosmetic Quality in the Automotive Design Process

16. VITAL Demonstration Contents Background MPhil Research Context Design Process Comparison Implementing VITAL Summary Improving Cosmetic Quality in the Automotive Design Process

17. QZ Auditing Contents Background MPhil Research Context Design Process Comparison Implementing VITAL Summary QZ - ‘Qualitats Zahl’ - Zero Quality • Assess the car from the customers point of view. • Make the designer think about quality from the beginning of the design process • QZ involves attaching a score to the vehiclebeing audited. It is a representation of thelevel of quality. • It should be applied as early as possible in the design process. Improving Cosmetic Quality in the Automotive Design Process