Automakers' Big Problem: "Engineers are not Gods"

By: Tucker Reals
Topics: Automakers

(AP Photo/Steven Senne)

The problem facing today's automakers, illustrated so clearly by Toyota's current misery, boils down to communication, a former senior engineer at a major Japanese automaker told CBSNews.com.

"Many parts communicate with each other," said the engineer, who offered the example of braking: In the past, when a driver wanted to brake, only the braking system was acting. With many of today's hybrid vehicles, for instance, when the brake pedal is pressed, the motor is also given commands, via a computer system.

This new and growing level of interdependence under the hood necessitates far greater synergy among the various manufacturers of the individual components systems, explained the insider, who asked not to be identified because he still holds a senior role in the industry.

Much more extensive compatibility testing and coordination during the development phase is a byproduct of the rising reliance on electronics.

"Hardware problems are easier to prevent," he said, "electrical ones are more of a problem" because their root cause is often difficult, if not impossible to predict or prevent.

That means greater pressure on the engineers designing the parts and the vehicles. The problem, as the industry insider put it succinctly to CBSNews.com: "Engineers are not gods."

Pressure comes from every angle, he said; to design greener cars, to make them more cost efficient to build, to do it all faster than the competition — and to make sure the end result is safe to drive.

"Of course, safety is a first priority," said the Japanese engineer, but people make mistakes, and that, combined with the elusive nature of electronic and software glitches is at the root of the problem facing the auto industry.

"The risk becomes greater," he said, acknowledging that, along with the increasing interdependence — both in the cars themselves, and among the automakers and parts makers — "I have seen problems."

"All automakers face this situation. We should be more careful."

And they are. The insider told CBSNews.com that most, if not all, of the world's big auto companies are learning Toyota's lesson and taking a fresh look at quality control measures.

"They will emphasize that more than in the past."

Tucker Reals
Tucker Reals is a senior news editor and overnight site editor for CBSNews.com, based at CBS News' London bureau.

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by rwsmith29456 March 10, 2010 11:54 PM EST: Nobody said they were gods. They make mistakes and if something doesn't work, they should fix it. What people did say was "How about fix this problem." but Toyota denies it even exists.; Reply to this comment


by realidad-2009 March 8, 2010 11:24 PM EST: Time to get rid of your cars-by-wire electric controls!

What was wrong with a pedal pulling a cable, pulling a spring Throttle?

My Mechanical pedal-throttle autos and Truck, Are More Valuable each day this "electric accelerator, brakes, and controls worsens.

Hoo Rahhh...; Reply to this comment


by tmittelstaed March 4, 2010 6:13 AM EST: The problem is that the EE guys typically didn't grow up working on cars. The ME guys did. You can't take a guy who wasn't raised a car guy and turn him into one after college.

The ME's go home after work and fire up the lathe, drill press, welder, and tinker in their garages. The EE's go home after work and play online games.; Reply to this comment


by midvale3 March 3, 2010 7:52 AM EST: The biggest problem from my experience working for a parts supplier, is the constant drive for cheaper materials and decrease in quality of those components. After hearing the news today about a Nissan recall and several others the past few months, it looks to be across all companies.; Reply to this comment


by magnumdr February 28, 2010 7:41 AM EST: You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that you don't let a computer chip be responsible for the basic opperation of the lifeline system for a car. Brakes and the accelerator are the most important componants on any car or truck. Duh!; Reply to this comment


by CBSisCommunist5 February 27, 2010 6:05 PM EST: Automakers' Big Problem: "Engineers are not Gods"

also not reliable; Reply to this comment


by sjc_1 February 26, 2010 5:05 PM EST: Most engineers know they are not gods, but some don't. The car business is a tough one because of all the safety and reliability reguired. More electronics are going into cars, so the EEs become as important as the MEs. If a computer or router goes out, there are no lives on the line. In this case it is more like medical equipment, there are lives on the line. So the more units you have out there and the longer you put off correcting them the bigger the problem.; Reply to this comment


by rwsmith29456 February 26, 2010 5:03 PM EST: First, if engineers want to install a system it has to be brought into production and manufactured as cheaply as possible. Yes, engineers do make mistakes. As a mechanical designer it was very sobering to know that people were working with and around equipment that I had designed. Second, safety problems can be fixed, but it's the way Toyota has handled (or not handled) this problem of theirs.; Reply to this comment


by rwsmith29456 February 26, 2010 5:00 PM EST: First, if engineers want to install a system it has to be brought into production and manufactured as cheaply as possible. Yes, engineers do make mistakes. As a mechanical designer it was very sobering to know that people were working with and around equipment that I had designed. Second, safety problems can be fixed, but it's the way Toyota has handled (or not handled) this problem of theirs.; Reply to this comment

by babooph February 26, 2010 4:56 PM EST

Best US engineers make arms...

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by mykmlr February 28, 2010 2:45 AM EST: Yeah, like the Sgt. York, the FA117, the FA17, the useless B1-B, the worthless antimissile systems ALL OF THEM that have yet to shoot down an unscheduled attack simulator, the Patriot Antimissile, that never hit a single scud (GAO), the Autonomous Vehicle program...shall I go on?
Acres and acres of money for NOTHING, nothing at all. weapons that don't work for problems that don't exist, and trillions of our dollars gone to waste.