Configuration Management Vehicle Platforms – Practices for Multi-Project Success In the dynamic world of vehicle platform development, configuration management is more crucial than ever. As manufacturers innovate, multiple projects often require changes across various vehicle systems built on the same platform. Ensuring seamless, high-quality integration demands robust strategies―especially branching and merging―to keep development efficient and […]

Why You Should Stop Calling It an Engineering Change and Start Saying Enterprise Change When I hear the phrase Engineering Change, alarm bells go off in my head. Not because I have something against engineers—I am one—but because the term limits the conversation and the scope of our thinking. In my decades of experience, I’ve […]

What is a Project Escalation Plan in Product Development? A project escalation plan for product development is a structured approach to identify, address, and resolve issues that threaten a project’s goals, timelines, or budget. These plans ensure problems are managed before they impact overall product success. To illustrate, and this is not my project, I was a […]

Automotive Testing Best Practices: SIL, HIL, and Why a Single Approach Falls Short by Jon M Quigley As someone deeply engaged in automotive product development and testing, I believe that robust strategies using both software-in-the-loop (SIL) and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) are essential. Drawing on the insights and frameworks of Jon M. Quigley, I want to explore […]

The Need for Transparency in Testing In the high-stakes world of automotive product development, demands to deliver vehicles on schedule often collide with the critical necessity for transparency in testing results. When timelines tighten and executive pressure mounts, the temptation to “fast-track” projects at the expense of rigorous verification grows. Yet, ensuring transparency in testing […]

Introduction Success in today’s workplace depends on the intricate balance of team and individual performance. Organizations striving for innovation recognize the importance of empowering individuals while fostering effective teamwork. Drawing on the insights of legendary quality management thinker W. Edwards Deming, this post examines motivational factors, the impact of self-interest, and the most effective actions to […]

Prototype Parts vs Production Parts: Understanding Key Differences and the Path to Production Introduction The journey from an initial concept to a finished product involves several crucial stages, including prototyping and production. For both engineers and procurement teams, it’s vital to understand the differences between prototype parts, their uses, and the technical, regulatory, and supply chain […]

Configuration management (CM) and product testing and verification are inextricably linked processes crucial for successful product development and production. Without effective configuration management, performing effective testing becomes difficult. CM provides the foundation for efficient, reliable, and insightful testing activities in today’s complex and constantly evolving systems across automotive, aerospace, defense, and software development industries.  This […]

At Value Transformation LLC, we bridge the gap between vision and reality for innovators in the automotive and specialty vehicle sectors. Harnessing decades of hands-on experience and cutting-edge manufacturing, our team delivers. Learning quickly is essential in product development. For example, waiting 10-12 + weeks for prototype wire harnesses delivery does not support this requirement. […]

Don’t Erase the Past to Reuse a Number Introduction: Configuration Item Traceability in PLM (#1) In product lifecycle management (PLM), effective configuration item traceability is not just a best practice—it’s a critical requirement, particularly for regulated industries such as medical devices, aerospace, and rail. Drawing on the principles and works of Jon M. Quigley, a […]