Human Factors Engineering Manager

STEVEN J. OJA

**** ******** ** · Clarkston, Michigan 48348

586-***-**** · **********@*****.***

Over 30 years of experience in the automotive industry with a strong focus on Driver Distraction, Human Factors Usability, UX Research and Technical Problem Solving. For the past 21 years, I have led an initiative to create and implement a static lab replicating actual on-road results of industry metrics for driver behavior while engaging with advanced infotainment systems. I also started and led the Usability team at General Motors capturing user needs and expectations on a wide range of products aiding the effort toward User Centered Design objectives. I also have 12 years of experience in the Quality organization focused on technical problem solving utilizing the concepts and techniques pioneered by Dorian Shainin and Shainin LLC.

AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION

Driver Workload Analysis/Testing · Usability Research · UX Research · Survey Development · Recruiting · Moderating · Heuristics · Qualitative & Quantitative Analysis · Root Cause Analysis · Project Management · User Centered Design · Quality Control · Statistical Engineering/Analysis/Methods/Variance Reduction · Red X / Shainin Strategies

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, Various Locations · 1990-2023

Engineering Group Manager – Usability & Driver Workload Human Factors Center (2017- 2023)

Manage team (15-20) of Human Factors engineers focused on Driver Distraction and Usability testing.

Responsible for ensuring that all Driver Workload (distraction) analysis, testing, documentation is completed for every GM vehicle program related to the Infotainment systems.

Lead the Global Usability team to execute high quality user clinics that capture the voice of the customer, and turn those into valuable insights and recommendations that will meet the needs of the end user of GM products.

The Global team has completed over 1000 Human Factors usability and UX research projects since I structured the team and process.

Managed the department budget and oversaw all capital projects. The department spending budget would range from $150K-$300K per year, and the capital budget would range from $50K to $500K per year. Capital projects included designing and building a UX research lab, multiple single channel drive-on simulators, multi-channel seating buck simulator, and IT project to develop data collection software for our Driver Workload Testing. I also managed the contracts for multiple suppliers (recruiting, simulator support, phone leasing, and 3rd party benchmarking software).

Global VPO Usability & Driver Workload Lead – Human Factors Center (2011-2017)

Lead the global Human Factors Usability team to develop capabilities and execute usability clinics to support the engineering functions in capturing Voice of the Customer research (qualitative and quantitative) within respective regions (North America, Germany, South Korea, Brazil, India, and China). Clinic work has included Ignition, driver controls, shifters (traditional AT/MT & electronic), seat controls, HMI, HVAC, vehicle architecture & packaging, powertrain plus much more. Key output from many clinics are Loss Function’s to support Best Practices.

Lead the Human Factors Driver Workload engineering team in the analysis and testing of in vehicle HMI, and assessing relative to the Alliance of Automotive Manufacturers criteria. This is for all General Motors vehicle programs sold in North America, with deliverables to the Driver Workload Performance Assessment Committee (DWPAC). Developed and updated two labs at the Milford Proving Grounds to have flexibility to conduct both Driver Workload and Usability testing as required. Integrated a drive-on simulator in both labs and correlated results of driver workload metrics to on road performance. Developed new test procedure for product validation.

Staff Program Engineer – Human Vehicle Integration (2009-2010)

Responsible to be the voice of the customer in the design process for new vehicle programs to ensure that all of the components that the user interfaces with, such as: interior controls, displays, storage, exterior components, and under-hood components are well designed to enable user comfort and ease of use.

Develop glide path and recommendations to Design Teams that will enable the vehicle program to achieve external goals for J.D. Powers as well as Consumer Reports scoring in the areas specific to the human interaction.

Staff Project Engineer: Technology Development / Driver Workload & Usability Lab (2002-2009)

Lead a team of engineers focusing efforts on validating future advanced telematic and infotainment products for driver performance safety initiatives.

Conduct driver performance and usability testing which includes coordinating, instrumentation, scheduling, executing, performing data analysis, formal reporting and presentations to leadership.

Work with global partners to define, develop and enhance processes related to driver performance.

Develop and implement testing methods for measuring and validating on-road driver performance predictions from simulator based tests.

Employ User Centered Design principles, working with design/release engineers to integrate lessons learned gained from performance assessments, observations and subjective feedback into future product development.

Provide bench marking data and competitive analysis to leadership.

Achievements

Led the Usability Lab from concept phase into a production facility for developing and validating driver performance metrics as well as usability and UX testing

Validated simulator based static test procedure to actual on-road performance and co-authored publication for industry review

Developed multiple global test procedures for validation and development of products for driver performance which satisfy the industry standards.

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Staff Project Engineer / Regional Master for Red X Program (2000-2002)

Responsible for the technical problem-solving program in 8 vehicle assembly plants in North America.

Served as mentor for the Asia Pacific region, utilizing Red X/Shainin strategies for technical problem solving.

Coached and trained the Supplier Quality problem solving team.

Authored the General Motors technical problem solving training material.

Taught training classes for problem solving throughout North America.

Served as chair for the Regional Master Review Committee on certification and training.

Trained senior leadership in the Statistical Engineering process.

Established strategies for analyzing and identifying the root cause of problems. Resolved issues with warranty cost per vehicle, J.D. Power Problems per Hundred (pph), Global Corporate Audit Scores, new product launches, and field actions.

Lead Hardy Perennial projects as required.

Had dotted line supervisory role over 10 engineers.

Achievements

Developed training material and certification process for 3 levels of problem solvers (Apprentice, Journeyman, Master)

Project work resulted in saving millions of dollars in product warranty, J.D. Power score reductions and plant downtime. The most significant project saved the company $24 million on a potential product recall.

Received Chairman’s Honor for “Quality as a Value – Red X Strategies”

Senior Project Engineer / Plant Master Program Lead (1998-2000)

Developed a process that enabled highly qualified individuals to take a lead role in the technical problem solving team at vehicle assembly plants in North America. This involved training, coaching and mentoring individuals through a rigorous curriculum developed by Shainin LLC.

Served as Interim manager for the Hardy Perennial Program with 6 engineers focused on high value warranty projects. Reported progress to the GM Strategy Board.

Received nomination for Chairman’s Honor for the Technical Problem Solving Program

Project Engineer / Plant Master Detroit / Hamtramck Assembly Plant (1996-1998)

Was the lead problem solver responsible for the workmanship and accuracy of the Quality Engineering team.

Coached and trained employees in solving complex issues in warranty, J.D. Power, manufacturing defect and throughput.

Integrated Voice of the Customer metrics into technical problem definition to effectively focus and resolve issues driving overall customer satisfaction.

Develop new tools for solving quality problems.

Lead projects as required and served as chair for Water Leak Reduction Task Team at the assembly plant.

Project Engineer / Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly Plant (1994-1996)

Worked on various quality problems throughout the assembly plant including Body Shop, Paint Shop and General Assembly. Supported the Internal Audit team at problem resolution.

Modern Engineering, Contract Engineer / Lead Engineer, Dimensional Variation Management (1993-1994), on site at General Motors

Defined and implemented strategy for Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) for door systems and front end sheet metal. Assigned work and guided engineers to complete tasks on detail part drawings. Analyzed tolerance stacks at system level to determine interference conditions and fit and finish issues. Developed fixture strategy to help reduce build variation at the assembly plant.

Modern Engineering, Contract Engineer / Project Engineer, Dimensional Variation Management (1990-1993), on site at General Motors

Developed variation analysis models to help define strategies in controlling and managing vehicle build process variation.

ADDITIONAL SKILLS

· Coaching · Driver Performance Testing · Anthropometry · Technical Problem Solving

· Strategic Planning · Design for Six Sigma · Cross-Functional Team Building · Variation Management Analysis & Modeling

FORMAL EDUCATION

Master of Science, Finance

Walsh College, Troy, Michigan

Bachelor of Science, Engineering Technology (Electrical)

Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan

TRAINING / CERTIFICATIONS

Black Belt, Design for Six Sigma

Master Statistical Engineer - Shainin LLC

Journeyman Statistical Engineer - Shainin LLC

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