Impressive Slate of Speakers, Technical Topics Slated for SAE International 2014 Commercial Vehicle Congress

The SAE International 2014 Commercial Vehicle Engineering Congress will include impressive speakers, topical technical programming, and mentoring and networking opportunities when it opens Oct. 7.

The Congress runs Oct. 7-9 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill., and focuses on the theme of Engineering Leadership – Changing, Guiding, Influencing. Executive Leadership for the event is provided by EATON.

A Blue Ribbon Panel opens the Congress by addressing how an increasingly complex, competitive landscape requires engineers to develop leadership skills and adaptive thinking abilities. Masayuki “Max” Moriyama, President, COO and CTO of Komatsu America Corporation will moderate the discussion. The panel members include Roger Nielsen, COO of Daimler Trucks North America; Tim Sinden, President of Truck for North America Eaton–Vehicle Group; Dr. Myra Blanco, Director, Center for Automated Vehicle Systems at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute; and Dr. Sri Srinath, Director of Executive Pipeline Development for Caterpillar Inc.

Dr. Mehdi Ahmadian, Dan Pletta Professor and Director of the Center for Vehicle Systems & Safety at Virginia Tech University, will present the 59th annual L. Ray Buckendale Lecture on Oct. 8. Ahmadian’s topic is Integrating Electromechanical Systems in Commercial Vehicles for Improved Handling, Safety, and Comfort. Additionally, Ahmadian will conduct a career development session for young professionals titled, The Importance of Networking Through Technical Conferences, and Efficient Communications = Profession Success.

Sean Milloy, Vice President of Business Development & Partnership Management for Cummins Inc., will moderate and Executive Panel discussing Efficiently Engineering for Global Markets–Meeting the Emerging Product Development Challenge, which will follow the Buckendale Lecture. The panel tackles the challenges and customer demands associated with balancing mature and emerging market product development resources and efforts. Panelists include David Larson, Vice President of Product Portfolio Planning for CNH Industrial; John Jullens, Partner with Booz & Company; Alan Berger, Vice President of Product Platforms for Volvo Construction Equipment; and Dr. Phil Stephenson, General Manager of the PACCAR Technical Center.

Gary Moore, PACCAR Vice President and General Manager of the Kenworth Truck Company, will offer the keynote address during the awards luncheon on Oct. 8. Moore is responsible for the Kenworth line of business that has been experiencing growth during a period of multiple new product launches.

In the afternoon of Oct. 8, Dr. Andrew Brown, Jr., Vice President and Chief Technologist for Delphi, who also is Chairman of the committee on Approaches and Technologies for Reducing the Fuel Consumption of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles, will provide an update on the committee’s work - Phase II - Medium and Heavy Duty Vehicle Update on Fuel Efficiency Regulations. Brown served as the SAE 2010 President.

Dr. M. Lou Balmer-Millar, Director of Research & Advanced Engineering, Product Development & Global Technology at Caterpillar Inc., will offer a breakfast keynote on Thursday, October 9 in which she will discuss Off-Road Mobile Machinery Fuel Efficiency - A Total Systems Perspective.  Later that morning, Dr. Balmer-Millar will also be moderate the Math to Lab to Road Executive Panel, which will address how this approach expedites product development schedules, increases product reliability and decreases product development costs.  Panelists include Dr. Hans Welfers, Senior Vice President of Electric/Electronic Systems for MAN Truck & Bus AG; Rodney Rowland, Global Manager of Product Verification and Validation for John Deere; Steve Nadig, Chief Engineer of Mechatronics for Daimler Trucks North America; Ed Hall, Senior General Manager of Engine Technologies for GE Transportation; and Craig Brown, Engineering Group Manager for General Motors.

The technical program comprises 140 published papers across 12 technical tracks.  Authors from Asia, North America and Europe in rank order make up the majority of the presentations.  Supplementing this program are newly created Chats with the Experts on a variety of topics with representatives from such companies as John Deere, McLaren, Meritor WABCO, Navistar, and PACCAR.

New this year are programs designed for Young Professionals that tie further into the event’s theme. These activities are designed to inform, encourage and motivate the leaders of tomorrow. This initiative provides solid leadership principles that younger attendees can carry throughout their career. These activities also provide an opportunity to learn from and network with senior executives.

At 10:15 a.m. on Oct. 7, Ken Davis, President of the Vehicle Group for Eaton, is the SAE 2014 Commercial Vehicle Engineering Congress Executive Chairman and will officially open the event with Tom Stover, CTO of the Vehicle Group for Eaton (retired), who also serves as the SAE Commercial Vehicle Vice President.

To register for information about the SAE 2014 Commercial Vehicle Engineering Congress, visit www.sae.org/cve.

To register with media credentials, visit http://www.sae.org/events/cve/attend/registration/.