Engineering Product Development
Resume:
William A. Spurr
Vehicle development and program management with over 20 years experience.
White Lake, MI, United States
Phone: 248-892–1038
My focus is:
Vehicle Engineering
Interested in the following industries:
Automotive
Responsibility levels:
Professional or Management
Objectives:
My objective is to work full time using my unique skills. My vehicle dynamics knowledge includes a rare combination of subjective evaluation and computer simulation skills. When the simulations fell short, I have created spreadsheets with optimizers. I have created other engineering tools, including finite element models, CarSim® and TruckSim® models. I also have been trained in critical path management to make sure scheduling bottlenecks are found and eliminated.
Education:
Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with electrical option – General Motors Institute 1973
Master of Science Engineering Mechanics, University of Michigan 1973
Experience:
February 27, 2012 - present at Isuzu of America. Activities include analyzing Polk data, special assignments, engineering investigations and tearing down vehicles for cost and structural analysis.
Highlights include:
1.Creating macros to process data from Isuzu vehicle onboard CPU’s (Mimamori data).
2.Mentoring new engineers regarding suspension and steering geometry theory, truck frame strength and stiffness, and tire handling properties.
3.Overseeing and documenting the teardown of competitive vehicles for cost, weight and structural analysis.
4.Investigating competitive vehicles for customer oriented engineering features (turn circle, powertrains, fuel systems, emission systems, etc.).
5.Proposing potential cost saving designs.
6.Proposing designs for structural improvements.
7.Evaluating competitive vehicles for braking and handling performance.
8.Explaining the function of various parts of competitive vehicles.
9.Investigating vehicle upfitter preferences to improve body builder instructions.
10.Releasing drawings using NX, TeamCenter, and Isuzu online procedures.
11.Investigating impact of proposed FMVSS and other rules.
12.Investigating and evaluating competitive brake-throttle override systems.
13.Tearing down and documenting a hybrid vehicle.
Dec. 7, 2010-April 15, 2011 Isuzu of America - Teardown of competitive trucks for cost analysis, structural analysis and data analysis
Highlights include:
1.Mentoring engineers regarding bolted joint slip analysis, finite element modeling, buckling, electromagnetic compatibility, vehicle handling, and other engineering topics.
2.Overseeing the teardown of 2 competitive vehicles.
3.Analyzing accelerometer and strain gage data using Excel, FFT and other tools.
4.Creating a spreadsheet to quickly process large data files using macros to fill in FFT parameters.
5.Running lab tests on test parts to develop countermeasures.
6.Oversee and reviewing finite element models to analyze baseline and alternative designs.
7.Summarizing and presenting findings.
Feb 2009-June 2011
Highlights include:
1.Consulting on delivery van handling improvements. Included a custom spreadsheet to quickly sift through trade-offs.
All Items prior to Dec 2008 at GM
Oct 1997-Nov 2008 Product Development Engineer on GMT 560
Highlights include:
1.GMT560 medium duty truck Vehicle Dynamics Engineering Manager. This included gathering the voice of the customer, converting those statements to measurable, objective metrics. It also included directing mule and prototype vehicle builds, as well as modifying those vehicles to improve performance.
2.Managing team to develop updated abs/tcs/ecs controls for medium duty trucks. This included CarSim simulations, hardware in the loop setups and updating (flashing) engine control modules with the latest software.
3.Writing and presenting 2 SAE papers (200*-**-**** “Ride and Handling Development of the 2003 Chevrolet Kodiak and GMC TopKick” and 200*-**-**** “Streamlining Chassis Tuning for Chevrolet and GMC Trucks and Vans”).
4.Co-authoring and presenting a paper for the International Large Truck Safety Symposium in Knoxville, TN (“An Asymmetric Truck Model for Studying Directional Behavior in Braking” - co-authored with Dr. Thomas Gillespie and Michael Sayers).
5.Co-authoring a paper - “Truck Design Factors Affecting Directional Behavior in Braking” with Dr. Thomas Gillespie and Steve Karamihas).
Oct 1989-Sep 1997 Product Development Development engineer on GMT530 medium duty and GMT540 tilt cab trucks
Primary responsibilities included ride, handling, and power train development. This included investigations of customer issues as well as new product development. Experiences in the field, riding with customers in their environment, combined with analytical abilities, contributed to successful, customer oriented new product development.
Highlights include:
1.Managed benchmarking activities and analysis of the results on the GMT540 low cab forward truck.
2.Worked with tire manufacturers to select optimum combinations of front and rear tires for ride and handling. Results contributed to first ever limits on front/rear tire combinations in GM medium duty production. The process was presented in an SAE paper (933011), and in speeches to the National Tire Dealers and Retreaders Association (October, 1992) and to SAE (October 1993).
3.Worked on the SAE Truck Tire Characterization task force to define standard test procedures for determining cornering, braking, and combined cornering/braking coefficients. The goal for truck manufacturers to be able to get consistent tire data suitable for computer models.
4.Worked with the Sales department, U-Haul management, Michelin, and design engineers to devise a unique GMT530 model for U-Haul. Successful demonstrations of a TopKick with taper leaf rear suspension vs. a Navistar with an air ride rear suspension contributed to winning a conquest order of about 4,000 trucks. (U-Haul continues to order GMC TopKicks into 2008).
5.Developed spreadsheets to process handling test data and to process Trucksim® simulation data into traditional GM handling plots.
6.Developed a spreadsheet to analyze vertical bending of straight frame rails for stress and natural frequencies. Variable frame sections, concentrated loads, unsprung masses, and variable wheelbases are some of the capabilities. The Structural Analysis group is beginning to use it for up-front parameter studies.
7.Other spreadsheets include steering linkage articulation with static steering loads, steering intermediate shaft and propshaft angle optimization, and leaf spring with shackle articulation.
8.Presented results and updates to top management of GMT540 performance. This included presentation of benchmarking results and rides of prototypes vs. competing production units. “Instant” computer generated presentations of evaluations gathered during the shows, contributed to successful product reviews.
Resume’ prior to 1989 available on request.
Outside Activities and Hobbies
White Lake Township Water Board member 1983-1994
Suburban Knolls Subdivision Association President 1981-2000
Home theater
Personal computing, web site creation
LED stage lighting with computer controls
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