Keynote Address Speaker:

Dr. Simon Xu
Engineering Group Manager
General Motors

Dr. Simon Xu is the Engineering Group Manager for General Motors’ Vehicle Optimization/Architecture Strategy at GM’s Global Technical Center in Warren, MI. He is responsible for innovations in the vehicle architecture development process, tools, and strategies. Simon is acknowledged as an expert in advanced optimization techniques such as parametric modeling, morphing, topology optimization, and multi-disciplinary optimization. Through his team’s effort and influence, GM’s virtual vehicle development has been continuously improved by the implementation of new tools and processes with benefits in vehicle performance, mass, cost, and fuel economy. Simon has played a major role in GM’s advanced technology programs, which developed new electric and hybrid vehicle concepts. Other key contributions include techniques to determine the optimal use of alternative light-weight materials and optimization methods to support new additive manufacturing processes for future vehicle programs. Simon chairs the GM Global Optimization Focus Group and approves the publications of GM corporate guidelines on optimization processes. In 2013 and 2016, Simon received the Boss Kettering Award, GM’s highest honor for technical achievement in innovation. Simon has one patent, one patent pending, and numerous internal GM Records of Invention. He is also a member of Global Automotive Management Council.

Mr. Kevin Brittain
Group Leader – MDO
Cummins Power Systems Engineering

Mr. Kevin Brittain has worked for Cummins in structural analysis and MDO for 7 years. He received his Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2011 with an emphasis on structural optimization. Currently he is leading a global MDO team within the Power Systems Business Unit and also leading cross functional initiatives across the company to proliferate the use of optimization within analysis-led design.

Dr. Andreas Vlahinos
Principal
Advanced Engineering Solutions

Dr. Andreas Vlahinos is a Principal of Advanced Engineering Solutions.  Andreas has concentrated on rapid new product development. He has been instrumental in rapid product development through the implementation of Design For Six Sigma (DFSS) and Computer Aided Concurrent Engineering for several Government agencies such as NASA, NREL, SANDIA, DOE and US Army Aviation & Missile Command and industry partners such as IBM, Coors, Lockheed Martin, Alcoa, Allison Engine Comp., Solar Turbines, Ball, Futech, American Standard, Kohler, Varian, Stewart & Stevenson, Harris Corp., GENERAL DYNAMICS, TDM, PTC, MDI, Ford Motor Company, Rockwell Collins, BIC, BAE, XEROX, United Launch Alliance, SpaceX, Woodward Inc., Gichner Shelter Systems, NAVISTAR Defense, Flyer Defense, Viper Inc., Lincoln Composites, Advanced Composite Products & Technology, Inc. and TOYOTA, as well as several others.

He has been Professor of structural engineering at the University of Colorado teaching courses in Structural Mechanics and Computer Aided Structural Engineering.  Several times he received the Professor of the Year Award, and he has published over 150 publications in areas of structural dynamics, design optimization and DFSS.  He has received the R&D 100 award and several patents.  He received his Ph.D. in Engineering Science and Mechanics from Georgia Institute of Technology.  Finally, he is regularly invited as a keynote speaker on a variety of subjects (Innovation, Rapid new product development, DFSS, DfAM, IoT) in international conferences.

Mr. Doug Grant
Senior Mechanical Engineer
GE Healthcare

Mr. Doug Grant is a Senior Mechanical Engineer with GE Healthcare (GEHC) in Waukesha, Wisconsin.  He is responsible for the application and support of mechanical simulation tools across the full spectrum of GEHC products and business units.  His primary areas of technical focus are structural and thermal simulation, shock and vibration, bolted joints, and topological optimization.

Dr. Siliang Zhang
Lead Engineer
PATAC

Dr. Zhang has a PhD of Automotive engineering and joined PATAC in 2013.
In China, PATAC is the first Sino-foreign automotive development joint venture between GM China Investment Corp. and Shanghai Automotive Industry Group(SAIC Motor) . Dr. Zhang is currently responsible for Virtual Performance Integration and Structure Optimization. He leads the team to finish the cross-function integration optimization work and makes the Opt. plan between two sync points, and coordinate to improve the structure performance and reduce the mass

Dr Weiguo(Ringo) Zhang
Senior Technical Specialist
FCA US LLC

Dr. Weiguo(Ringo) Zhang is a Senior Technical Specialist in FCA US LLC. He is a certified Design For Six Sigma (DFSS) Black Belt. His major work in current position is developing CAE methodology to evaluate the NVH and Flow Performance of Air Intake and Exhaust Systems for different engines. Before he joined FCA, he worked as a CAE NVH engineer in Collins & Aikman and as a technical specialist in Comet Technology Corporation.  He is the recipient of 2015 SAE Arch T. Colwell Merit Award and 2016 SAE Forest R. McFarland Award. Dr. Zhang graduated from the University of Michigan with Ph.D.

Mr. John White
Engine Systems Simulation Engineer
FCA US LLC

Mr. John White is an Engine Systems Simulation contract engineer at FCA US LLC. He worked as a Staff Research Engineer III for GM/Delphi for 25 years before he started working as a contractor at FCA eight years ago. John White has previously published several papers describing the use of Topometry and shape optimization to improve engine air induction NVH performance. John White has a BSE in aeronautical engineering from the University of Michigan and a graduate degree in mechanical engineering from Ohio State University.

Mr. Ranga Chakravarty
General Motors

Mr. Ranga Chakravarty is a CAE Optimization Engineer in the Vehicle Optimization Group at General Motors (GM). He is responsible for the development and application of optimization tools used in the vehicle architecture development process. Ranga’s areas of specialization are N&V and Optimization, with specific interest in software for Sizing, Shape and Topology Optimization. As a key user of Genesis, Ranga has applied the software to a wide variety of engineering situations on multiple GM vehicle programs, has identified numerous requirements for software enhancements and has exercised the most advanced features of the Genesis software. He has authored over twenty optimization method and standard work guidelines at GM. He has received over fifteen internal GM Records of Invention and one patent. In 2013, he received GM’s highest honor of technical achievement in innovation, the Boss Kettering Award. Ranga received his Bachelor of Technology degree in Mechanical Engineering from IIT-Kharagpur and his M.S. in Engineering Mechanics from Iowa State University at Ames.

Mr. Grant Browning
Pratt & Miller

Mr. Grant Browning is currently a design technical lead at Pratt & Miller Engineering and has worked there for 8 years. Pratt & Miller is responsible for the design, build, and execution of the factory Corvette Racing cars and provides considerable design support for many other motorsports programs. Grant received his master’s degree from Florida Atlantic University with a concentration in composite structures.

Dr. Edmondo Di Pasquale
SIMTECH

Dr. Edmondo Di Pasquale earned a MS in Mech Eng from the University of Pisa (Italy) in 1983 and a Ph.D in Civ. Eng. from Princeton University in 1989. After a 4-year stint at ESI, he founded SimTech in 1993. SimTech carries out research project in the general field of numerical simulation, focusing on optimization, custom-specific code development, impact dynamics and manufacturing. He is an agent for VR&D, trying to develp business in the Central Florida region, where he recently moved. Dr. Di Pasquale taught for 10 years in French Engineering schools. He is now an adjunct Professor at Florida Institute of Technology and at Eastern Florida State College.

Dr. Chandan Mozumder
General Motors

Dr. Chandan Mozumder is a CAE Optimization Engineer in the Vehicle Optimization Group at General Motors (GM). He is currently responsible for developing CAE capabilities to support the Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) efforts at GM. He is also the lead CAE optimization engineer for Full-size/Mid-size Trucks/SUVs and Global Simulation Owner (GSO) for Topology Optimization. He has been involved in many key projects for vehicle light-weighting using structural design optimization. He is involved in evaluating GM’s optimization activities in cross-functional areas to identify the need for technical assistance across organizations. This enables engineers to streamline their effort to design an efficient vehicle that meets cross-functional requirements. Chandan’s current areas of interest are Structural Optimization for Stiffness, Crashworthiness, NVH, Durability, and Vehicle Dynamics. Chandan has received one patent, multiple internal Records of Invention, two GM Transformer awards, and several teamGM recognition awards. He earned his PhD in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering from the Notre Dame Design Automation Lab (NDDAL) at the University of Notre Dame in 2010. He graduated from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) in 2005 with a Master of Technology and Bachelor of Technology in Aerospace Engineering.

Dr. Akbar Farahani
ETA

Dr. Akbar Farahani is currently CEO and Director of Global Engineering and Software at ETA Inc., he has over 30 years of experience in CAE and product design development, consulting automotive and transportation OEM’s and suppliers worldwide.
His areas of expertise include CAE, lightweighting technologies and optimization design solutions for product design and development, vehicle concept development, investigating material options and manufacturing processes for full vehicle system BIW, Interior and Chassis/Suspension. Dr. Farahani led the development of ETA’s patented technology “ACP Process” (Accelerated Concept to Product Process) and 3G Optimization Technology in ACP OpDesign (optimization led design software developed by BETA CAE System and ETA.) He has managed and executed over 20 full vehicle CAE programs from concept to production in the US, EU and Asia. He has extensive knowledge of advanced material functions for full vehicle development (Advance High Strength Steel, Aluminum and Composite).
He received his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering/Structural Mechanics with an emphasis on non-linear thin-shell structures from BYU in Provo, Utah, a Master’s Degree from the University of California, Irvine in Structural Dynamics and his Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Mr. Ray Chaney
DEP

Mr. Ray Chaney is Director of Pre-Sales and Software Support at Detroit Engineered Products where he is responsible for global development and support of MeshWorks and CAD Morpher. He studied at Oakland University and has more than 17 years of experience in CAE with a focus in NVH and product design. In 2007 he joined DEP as lead Project Engineer where he managed multiple DOE and direct optimization projects in the CFD and NVH domains. In 2009 he received special recognition for a Joint Patent Application for a multi Cell Battery Pack having optimal temperature distribution and airflow. In 2012 he devolved a ground breaking algorithm that was used for Hybrid Battery system integration analysis.