 | Design and Development Maxima’s design and development capability is driven by 6-Sigma tools, best-practices, and a global team of highly skilled professionals. |
 RESEARCHThe Maxima team proactively surveys OEMs, dealers and end-users to aid the development of new designs, accounting for customer needs and wants from the very beginning. This provides a market-driven basis for our Design-to-Targets process. DESIGN-TO-TARGETS/BENCHMARKING Design-to-Targets enables our team to establish market- and customer-driven designs that account for customer requirements and competitive alternatives. As a result, products are designed around specific parameters for function and cost. FEASIBILITY STUDIES Maxima engineers can prepare feasibility studies, either before a project commences (in which case the feasibility study could determine whether to proceed), or as a deliverable for a stand-alone engineering project that facilitates a go/no go decision. CONCEPTS Concepts based on market research, benchmarking, Design-to-Targets and customer specifications can be presented to OEMs, dealers and end-users for evaluation. These renderings serve as a starting point for a preliminary design, after which concepts can be transformed into physical parts.  SUBSYSTEM DESIGN SPECIFICATION Once the project is kicked-off, the team’s first task is to prepare the Subsystem Design Specification (SDS). Maxima can assist the OEM in developing the SDS, and/or contribute to the creation of specifications before the project is started. DESIGN STRATEGIES Maxima will assist in developing design strategies. Consider the following:
Maxima engineers create a Software Design Specification as a subset of the Subsystem Design Specification. The software development environment is mapped out, according to the requirements for 1) target hardware/system simulators, 2) emulators and the de-bugger, 3) complier/assembler for target board, 4) licenses/documentation, and 5) the RTOS, if used. Configuration management is also supported using appropriate tools. Maxima draws upon a "library" of software modules when developing programs, thus supporting targets for economies-of-scale and scalability. HARDWARE DESIGN  Hardware design is implemented in Pro-E using FEA for critical components and subsystems. Our focus on product survivability in harsh environ- ments has given rise to our core expertise in applications-specific structure, packaging and sealing. Engineers give special attention to EMC during the design of electronic components, and we are notably experienced with a wide range of popular processors. DESIGN VERIFICATION TESTING Maxima engineers prepare a Design Verification Plan (DVP) for every new engineered product. The DVP drives the test program, with an emphasis on either reliability growth and demonstration through combined environmental testing, or accelerated (HALT) testing. PRODUCT VALIDATION Once the product's design is verified, Maxima turns its attention to supporting the OEM's field testing. Here, our product—the "subsystem"—will be installed in the vehicle or machine. Final product validation occurs upon completion of the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) and the team's and customer's subsequent "OK to launch". CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT Following launch, Maxima seeks to continuously improve the performance of our products to verifit customer satisfaction and determine next steps:
|