A Drive To Succeed
Automotive Engineers Share Their Inspirations And Dream Projects.
By Claudia D. Wheeler
Automotive engineers are involved in almost every aspect of designing
cars, trucks, buses, and motorcycles, from the initial concept or design
of the components or systems, to their development, to manufacturing
and operation. It is an exciting career path incorporating elements
of mechanical, electrical, and software engineering, among others.
To give you a sense of projects on which they work, the following engineers
at American Honda, Saturn, and TRW Automotive share their inspiration,
current projects, what they enjoy the most about their careers, and
their dream projects.
Hugo Beltran,
Senior Staff Engineer,
American Honda
Hugo Beltran is senior staff engineer for the weld division of Honda
of America Manufacturing, East Liberty Plant, Marysville, OH. Over 13,000
Ohioans build motorcycles, automobiles, and engines at Honda’s
locations that include where Beltran works at the East Liberty Auto
Plant (Civic, Element, and CR-V); the Marysville Motorcycle Plant; the
Marysville Auto Plant (Accord, Acura TL, and RDX), and the Anna Engine
Plant (4-cylinder/V-6 engines and other components).
Honda opened its first U.S. plant in 1979 and has evolved into a company
that directly employs more than 25,000 Americans. More than 100,000
workers are employed at authorized Honda automobile, motorcycle, and
power-equipment dealerships in the U.S. Tens of thousands of additional
Americans are employed by more than nearly 600 U.S. suppliers from which
Honda purchases parts and materials.
Inspired by his father, a petroleum engineer, Beltran was interested
in mathematics and science. In his youth, he worked on cars and liked
to understand how the systems worked. What does he enjoy the most about
his current assignment as process engineering leader/delivery leader
for weld/NA PESC weld category leader? “The job is highly? challenging
and involves continuous learning in both the technical and management?
field,” says Beltran. “I get to mentor other engineers and
can see the impact of the team’s? effort, for example, the improvement
of production and the launch of a new model.” He currently works
to improve the stability of Honda’s welding line and the development
for Honda specific welding systems.
Beltran only wishes he had joined Honda earlier in his career. What
would his dream project involve? “ I like to solve problems by
analyzing to find the root cause and utilizing technology and adapting
it to the manufacturing floor to enhance safety/quality/delivery/cost/
morale/environment categories,” details Beltran. “The ideal
project would also include the mentoring of associates.”
Chihsiung Lo,
Automotive Engineer,
Saturn, General Motors Corporation
Chihsiung Lo is a performance engineer for energy and drive quality
on the 2009 Saturn Vue 2 Mode Hybrid, which is expected to begin production
before the end of 2008. Lo is currently in the final stage of preparing
to produce the new Saturn Vue 2 Mode Hybrid.
Saturn is one of General Motors (GM) Corporation’s brands. GM
is one of the world’s largest automakers, employing about 266,000
people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, MI, GM
manufactures its cars and trucks in 35 countries. In 2007, nearly 9.37
million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands:
Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac,
Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall, and Wuling.
While in graduate school at the University of Michigan in 1989-1990,
Lo was inspired to join the automotive industry while doing a research
project with Trudy Weber from GM Research. “We did a research
project together to optimize the fuel efficiency for various hybrids,”
recalls Lo.
What does Lo enjoy the most about his chosen profession? “As an
automotive engineer, I enjoy participating in a vehicle’s development
from concept to production, especially those involving advanced technology
such as hybrids,” explains Lo. “It’s like seeing a
new baby born in a family. In this case, of course, we are talking about
seeing a new entry to the automotive family.”
Lo earned a PhD degree in mechanical engineering but wishes he could
have pursued a dual degree in electrical engineering/computer science
as well. If he could work on the project of his dreams, what would it
be? Lo’s dream is one that may not be far off. “My dream
project would be to work to create a plug-in electric hybrid vehicle
that also could operate on solar power,” says Lo.
Livingstone Adwini-Poku,
Senior Engineering Manager,
TRW Automotive
Adwini-Poku is senior engineering manager, slip control systems engineering
department in Livonia, MI, TRW Automotive’s headquarters and brake
engineering development center in North America.
Serving all major OEM vehicle manufacturers worldwide and their suppliers,
TRW Automotive has 63,100 employees worldwide with 21,300 in North America,
4,400 in South America, 33,800 in Europe, and 3,600 in Asia-Pacific.
It has 209 facilities in 28 countries and is among the world leaders
in all of its primary product lines including automotive and commercial
steering systems, foundation brake components and systems, seat belt
systems, engine valves and valve train systems, brake control systems,
airbag systems, safety electronics, body control systems, steering wheels,
and engineered fasteners.
Adwini-Poku’s manages an engineering team involved in vehicle
development of slip control systems such as anti-lock brake systems
and electronic stability control systems. “I enjoy the implementation
of new technologies on vehicle platforms that are scheduled to be released
in the future and evaluating these vehicles in an environment that allows
you to take it to its limit,” declares Adwini-Poku. “My
teams work on slip control on several 2010, 2011, and 2012 platforms
for Ford, GM, Chrysler, Mazda, Mitsubishi, and Mahindra in India. I
also work on efficiency improvements within the engineering applications
teams and leveraging global resources.”
Why did Adwini-Poku pursue this career and this particular area of engineering?
“I had initially planned to go to medical school and started taking
classes,” relates Adwini-Poku. “My mathematics and physics
skills were always dominant and my interest in analysis and computers
increased when I was in college. Therefore, I directed my focus to earn
a math and computer science degree. During the final year of earning
this degree, I realized that I could easily earn an engineering degree
within the same time frame. Taking those engineering classes made me
realize that my interest lied in engineering, especially in vehicle
dynamics. Therefore, I went ahead and earned both degrees that year.”
Adwini-Poku enjoys his career and does not look to change it, however,
he has developed an interest in the financial aspects of the company.
“If I could do something different, it would be to work in the
finance department using my technical knowledge as a base,” he
adds.
As for the project of his dreams, for Adwini-Poku it would be to secure
enough financing to build an automotive parts factory in Africa. “The
factory would have an attached training facility that would train technical
people and provide jobs and would supply quality competitive parts for
global consumption,” concludes Adwini-Poku.
