SAE and Partner Organizations Offer New Automotive Supplier Program in Ningbo in China's Zhejiang Province

The Ningbo Supplier Technology Excellence Program (STEP) from SAE, jointly delivered with its partner organizations—the Auto Parts Industry Association of Ningbo (AIA) and the Ningbo Automotive Component Testing Center (NACTC), a facility of the China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC)—is designed to help automotive supply companies in the Ningbo/Zhejiang Province with product innovation, the acquisition of technology, and global competitiveness. Focusing on a specific vehicle system technology, the first STEP program will address Chassis, Suspension and Brakes and will begin with an initial training event set for October 8-10, 2008 to be held at SAE International Ningbo Office and the neighboring facilities of NACTC.

The October event will feature international experts who will deliver a Chassis, Suspension and Brake training program covering:

• the vehicle system
• manufacturing technology
• global standards and testing
• product life cycle management (supply chain, quality and process issues)

Event participants will also tour the NACTC testing facilities, participate in a demonstration of their brake dynamometer, and learn about the facility's test capabilities and brake testing services.

STEP is offered to area suppliers as a year-long partnership program to include four main training events supplemented by in-company technical assessments between those events to help a company evaluate its technical capabilities and determine its training and development needs. Each training event's program will build on prior lessons adding depth and breadth to the knowledge base of the participants. The in-company assessments—between events—will be carried out by CATARC and NACTC engineers, along with SAE representatives. By combining learning events with follow-up onsite technical assistance, companies have the opportunity to learn-then-apply, enhancing their long-term product and technology development efforts.

Following the first event this October, the remaining Chassis, Suspension and Brake STEP training events in the year-long series are scheduled to be held in February, June, and October 2009. Between the events, each participating company schedules its in-company technical assessments as needed.

Successful Inaugural Event!
The inaugural STEP event took place October 8 - 10, 2008 at SAE Ningbo Office and the neighboring facilities of NACTC and focused on Chassis, Suspension and Brakes.

Forty engineers and engineering managers from 14 companies participated. Yu Hongtao, Director for NACTC and Gary Schadke, Director Asia Business Development for SAE welcomed attendees and introduced STEP and the event's program. This was followed by a two-hour session on "More Attention to the Details". Led by Ma Yong Li, Chief Training Instructor for the Shanghai Operation of CATARC, the discussion focused on operational management and quality control systems.

Mr. James Walker Jr., led a two-part full-day seminar on Vehicle Systems Technology - Brake Control Systems (ABS, TCS, ESC) and Vehicle Dynamics for engineers. Executives participated in additional sessions, executive briefings, and question & answer chats presented by Mr. Larry Bissell. Mr. Bissell's topics included Managing Product Development Projects and Resolving Product Failures.

Yu Hongtao and Meng Yuankui, both of CATARC/NACTC, led a tour of the NACTC testing facility including a demonstration of the brake dynamometer and presentation of the facility's testing capabilities and brake testing services. This was supplemented with a review of SAE standards for brake and brake NVH testing.

SAE staff also conducted orientation sessions on STEP company visits and assessments, follow-up on-site activities carried out by CATARC and NACTC engineers, along with SAE representatives. By combining the October learning event with onsite technical assistance, participating companies have the opportunity to learn-then-apply, enhancing their long-term product and technology development efforts.

STEP includes a series of technology events geared toward suppliers in the Ningbo/Zhejiang Province area that will take place throughout 2009. For more information on STEP—and the SAE Corporate Technologies programs also available in the region—contact Gary Schkade + 1- 724-772-4082; fax: + 1- 724-776-5231; or email: ctech@sae.org.