A Q&A with Engineering Technology Associates

Q: What services do you provide to design engineers, and engineering and IT management?

A: Following nature’s lead, ETA (Engineering Technology Associates) provides product design & development solutions, which offer the optimal balance of performance and efficiency. The shapes and forms of a tree, a human skeleton, an insect or animal are the most efficient designs imaginable. To mimic the balance between structure and strength of nature’s most efficient shapes, ETA engineers have developed the patented Accelerated Concept to Product (ACP) Process®.

The process incorporates similar balance to product structures in terms of shape, material and thickness for automobiles, aircraft and a variety of other structural products. The results are lightweight, yet higher performing designs.

ETA’s product design & development solutions include full vehicle development, CAE/FEA analysis, design optimization for cost & weight reduction and on-site engineering support.  A long time tier-one supplier to the global automotive industry, ETA offers expertise in all aspects of structural analysis including durability, NVH, metal forming, crashworthiness, occupant safety and optimization.

Q: What are the top challenges being faced by the engineering teams you serve?

A: The transportation industries in particular are facing numerous challenges today. The product design and development process includes multi-dimensional issues, which often contradict each other. A central challenge is the need for cost and mass reduction to compete in the global market, while continuing to meet all new and existing requirements for quality and performance.

Additionally, the cost and mass reduction objectives are challenged by a few factors, including aggressive fuel economy and emissions standards.

Q: How can you help engineering teams cope with those top challenges?

A: These design requirements indicate that new approaches are necessary within the modern product development environment. To address the challenges head-on, ETA applies its ACP Process®, which views product development in a completely holistic way. It synchronizes the individual facets of the product development process including concept design, material selection, CAE and manufacturing. Results offer an overall reduction in development costs and time to market.

For ETA’s clients, the methodology offers four key benefits, namely a demonstrated capability to:

1. Reduce Product Development Costs by 40%

2. Reduce Product Mass by Approximately 40%

3. Improve Product Performance (durability, stiffness, NVH, crash/safety)

4. Increase MPG based on the Mass Reduction Results

ETA's Accelerated Concept to Product process implements techniques from nature.

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• Engineering Technology Associates