Latest Automotive Applications Division Annual Report
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Below is the annual report for the Automotive Applications Division |
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Board membership |
There are currently 19 members of the Board, which represents a broad range of different industrial interests within the automotive industry. The year has seen many commercial pressures on the industry and it has been noticeable in the low attendance of members at meetings. Board members are encouraged to send deputies and by way of encouraging attendance, meeting venues are changed to different member sites. One such meeting was held at Corus, Haarlam in the Netherlands which enabled a very worthwhile post meeting introduction to facilities on the Corus site.
A recent idea to ease the problems of travel to meetings is a proposed e-meeting over the internet. A demonstration has been given and the new KTN web site has the necessary software to enable it.
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Opportunities for growth/constraints |
Growth will develop from the interest and active participation of the young material engineers. In cases where a Board member has introduced a young engineer to deputise then the Board have encouraged that young member to remain. This action is to be progressed where busy members have difficulty in attendance. Various methods of interacting and encouraging youth in automotive materials engineering are being pursued:
- Sponsorship of IOM3 school material programmes
- Representation of IOM3 and awards to the schools Greenpower programme
- University student support where requested i.e. sponsorship to Congress
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Technical programme |
The Division's main activity for 2005 was the International Materials for Lean Weight Vehicles Conference held in early December. A conference working party was convened with a high proportion (30%) of young members under the chairmanship of Peter Parrott (Automotive Technology). The three day event was sponsored by DTI Foresight Vehicle and the first day was free being a Foresight Vehicle dissemination programme. The programme attracted over 100 delegates each day with a number of international contributions. The notable keynote speech was provided by a US government representative talking about the US Freedom Car project. This ensured an excellent attendance by the Automotive OEM engineers. The success of this conference has provided the means for several awards to be made by the Automotive Applications Board in support of its policy to encourage youth programmes in material engineering.
2006 is the return of Congress. Automotive Applications Board are supporting the Surface Engineering Committee in their ''Young Researcher'' Competition. Automotive Application Board will provide some financial help to young researchers who have problems in attending Congress. The success of the last Lean Weight Vehicle conference is prompting a discussion on a new transport conference for this year; a meeting has been arranged to discuss the proposal. Additionally, an 'end of life' automotive conference is planned jointly with the DRIVENET consortium at the end of the year. Other smaller events are to be cosponsored as appropriate organisers request it.
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Professional developments |
TA discussion on the linkage between CPD and adult education resulted in a suggestion that the Automotive Application Board may become a sign-poster to or even a provider of CPD material. This is being considered and there is an excellent opportunity with the emergence of the KTN for materials and its web based presence.
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National and international linkages with other Societies /Institutes |
The organisational linkages as notified by AAB members, is being captured on our web site in order to enable easy access to the national and international organisations so as to facilitate networking. The recent announcement of the KTN for materials and links with Foresight Vehicle is welcome as it enables the AAB to combine positively with key information providers. The I.MechE member of our board has been unable to join our meeting but it has been considered important to retain him as a corresponding member in order to ensure that the automotive information is inclusive of his members.
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Government Interfaces |
It was pleasing that the EPSRC member was able to attend a meeting during the year and so share information on events. DTI Automotive Directorate was unable to attend but the links through Foresight Vehicle are strong. The new KTN should be highly constructive to this link.
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Publications |
Automotive Application Board has submitted several articles to Materials World. It has reported the interaction and encouragement of young engineers in schools through Greenpower and has used its announcement of the Rowbotham Medal competition to promote the Boards activities.
The web site is considered the most important media for AAB members and has been changed over the year to provide a more interesting ''shop window'' with a new introductory page. Papers from our conferences have been introduced on the site.
However, the web 'hit rate' has been disappointing, hence, means to achieve a higher profile site is being developed. The result is that the web site has been separately registered so that it can be housed on an independent server that our web manager can change and 'upload' quickly and frequently. With the announcement of the KTN materials, and Foresight Vehicle involvement, the linkage of this dynamic site is considered full of potential for the Automotive Application Board and its members.
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Awards / Prizes |
The Rowbotham medal was approved by council and is active for award this year. The funding for this medal and its future has been secured through the activities of the AAB. Its aim is to encourage youth in the innovative use of materials for automotive application.
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