VIEWPOINT | SAE 2014 WORLD CONGRESS: CREATING NEW POSSIBILITIES

The SAE 2014 World Congress in Detroit April 8-10, hosted by Hyundai Motor Co., will focus on the extraordinary opportunities and challenges awaiting the global auto industry over the next several years. The event's theme, Creating New Possibilities, underscores the fact that the industry isn't here just to handle day-to-day business but must address the possibilities presented by faster product cycles, the advent of vehicle connectivity and the drive for cleaner propulsion systems.

Geoff Diamond, a senior planner in the product planning group at the Hyundai America Technical Center in Ann Arbor, Mich., and crucial member of the World Congress planning team, comments.

Who should attend the SAE 2014 World Congress?

Obviously industry professionals should be there. Engineers from every discipline in our industry can capture something that's good for them at the World Congress. The peer-to-peer networking is exceptional. It's also great for academia and government representatives. And of course, the Congress represents an exceptional opportunity for students to network with practicing engineers and see what's really going on in the industry these days.

What can you gain by attending World Congress?

Industry networking is one of the most beneficial aspects of this event. I've attended World Congress for years, and each time I've met new people and learned something new. It's a very good way to connect with peers from other companies but also meet people at higher levels in the industry. The opportunities to build relationships that can help your career down the road are outstanding. "Congress" is a very good word to describe the event in Detroit.

One of the big advantages in attending Congress is that the event brings together people from all over the world. These days you really need to know what's going on in the industry, not just in your own piece of it. It's difficult to image a better event to make that happen.

It's easy for engineers to get stuck in a bubble as they focus on the component they are developing. Events such as World Congress and the other big events that SAE International puts on are very effective and time-efficient ways to do just that.

What makes the SAE World Congress different from other industry meetings?

There's an intimacy about World Congress that makes it truly unique. The technical sessions create a pretty intimate setting, where you can interact directly with engineers on very specific areas of innovation and research.

It's a similar situation on the Expo floor, where attendees can talk directly to exhibitors. For 2014 there also will be a great Innovators Only exhibit that puts you in contact with people behind some of the industry's freshest new ideas. Then there are the management programs, where you can hear about what's happening from a 100,000-foot perspective. It's all these elements together in one place that makes Congress so distinctive.

These options also create a very customizable environment. You can tailor your experience around what will be most beneficial to you. You're not forced to sit in a room all day and listen to people speak. Congress is multi-faceted, and it offers very interactive environment.

How has the auto industry changed since you entered it?

The pace is very different than when I entered the industry. I was flabbergasted at how long it took for some products to get to market. But it seems like the cadence is picking up every year. That's very exciting for me. I like coming to work and not knowing what's coming up that day. A lot of people in the industry feel that way.

The auto industry is getting broader, yet it's also becoming more specific. Vehicles are more complex than ever, and the interrelationship among the components and systems has never been more important. Powertrains keep getting more sophisticated, downsizing is a real challenge for the engineering community, connectivity is opening up amazing horizons and regulatory requirements are keeping all of us on our toes.

What does SAE International mean to you?

One of the organization's major strengths is its role in bringing people together to talk about important issues and what the future holds for us. SAE is a collective group that represents a diversified range of disciplines, and we're all trying to work toward a better and sustainable industry for the future.

This is what makes SAE so important for the industry's future leaders. To be an effective automotive engineer today, you can't just sit in your cubicle and "do the work." You need perspective, and SAE is an outstanding organization to provide it.

That's why I think the future leaders of our industry need to look at SAE World Congress as a must-attend event. It's not just an opportunity to see where the industry is going, but also a way to get a good feel for what people are doing in the industry. It's also a tremendous way for students who are deciding on a career path to gain an appreciation for just how dynamic the automobile industry is today.

Click HERE to learn more about the SAE 2014 World Congress or visit sae.org/congress.