IESF Europe 2012: Electrical Systems Design, Integration & Harnessing

KEYNOTE Advanced driver assistance systems, like other premium features, have arrived in the compact class vehicles. OEMs and brands are proliferating into new markets and very often into new niches to address the changing needs and wants of vehicle buyers. A lot of technical, commercial and perceptional benefits may be derived from connecting sensor data, from connecting cars or from connecting the driver with the internet. Yet the different groups tasked with the creation of all of the above, i.e. the system architects, the electrical system designers, the software developers, etc., very often live on different islands, barely connected at all. This key note analyses how the industry is challenged by these issues and discusses the way this is shaping software solutions that can work across multiple domains and organizational boundaries to help bring the aspirations of mass customization and shortened design cycles to a reality.

TECHNICAL SESSION Rapid resolution of electrical faults reduces costs and enhances brand image. This breakout presents technology to dramatically simplify the troubleshooting task. Leveraging design data directly into the service domain, the service technician is presented with vehicle-specific information, can navigate easily and dynamically through electrical schematics, and seamlessly link with other resources such as diagnostic systems, 2D and 3D views, and rectification scripts.

TECHNICAL SESSION Automotive electrical systems are expensive: a key task is to develop engineering solutions that meet cost mandates. This breakout shows how Capital puts tools into engineers' hands that address this need. Vehicle product plan, EE sub-systems and mechanical data are integrated within a single environment to create a complete configuration complexity model of the vehicle electrical system. Decision support tools guide designers to the best solutions, helping them to meet their targets quickly and systematically.

TECHNICAL SESSION Managing the blizzard of design changes is frequently cited as the biggest challenge facing electrical systems & wire harness engineers. This breakout explains powerful technology within the Capital software suite to rigorously manage design change. A seamless process is traced from an external Change Order, through multiple impacted domains, and eventually to a revised formboard design. Both technical and commercial issues are discussed to provide a rounded approach to the subject.

TECHNICAL SESSION Precise calculation of wire harness costs is essential not only for manufacturers who must quote selling prices promptly and accurately, but also for OEMs who wish to control purchasing dynamics. This breakout presents brand new technology for detailed harness cost & time calculations. Fully integrated within the Capital suite, this new software rapidly computes material costs, labor times and associated values. Rich cost models, capturing corporate IP, can be swiftly & securely developed, then used to support activities such as margin management, sourcing decisions & manufacturing optimization.

TECHNICAL SESSION The presentation on ‘PLM Meets Capital:Building an ecosystem around Capital’ highlights the pluggable nature of Capital, to fit into diverse OEM environments. The presentation highlights the importance of a tight integration between Capital and the PLM environment (Team Centre) and the benefits out of such an integration to TATA Motors. The presentation also focusses on the key aspects of Capital and how it would derive benefits for users in their projects and challenges.