The Challenge of New Model Introduction

Charles A Mason & Alan C. Woodward

A review of how New Model
Introduction times and schedules have changed over the last few decades and the impact this has had on vehicle manufacturers and automotive glass suppliers will be given.

Examples of approaches that glass companies have had to adopt in order to meet these challenges of time, cost, quality and product complexity will be discussed. These include computer simulation, dedicated NMI facilities and systems & ownership of design responsibilities by glass suppliers.

Globalisation is also having a significant effect on New Model Introduction and the impact of this to
Glazing suppliers will be reviewed. The organisational & technical demands of global platforms are considerable, as are the growing numbers of niche models developed from these platforms, and as the glazing forms a defining part of the vehicle style & form, the effect of lowvolume vehicles is important & will be explored.

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