By: DJ Whiteside - Troy

Seat testing has been a core competency of MGA and the Life Cycle group for many years. However, over the last two years, the lab has diversified and expanded its expertise with the addition of new personnel, new equipment capabilities, and a library of new test specifications. The result has been a full-service validation group in the areas of materials, life cycle, and environmental testing for full-vehicle interiors and closures.

Our full-service aim is supported by improvements in the following critical areas:

• Complete project management, test updates, and glide-path support.

• Same-day or next-day quotation response.

• A goal of one week for test report turnaround.

• Additional support and equipment capabilities to the Materials test lab, including a 5-finger scratch tester and a Brushing & Pilling tester.

• The addition of A2LA-accredited component-level electrical testing.

• Proficient test practices in the vehicle closures test field. MGA’s pneumatic and power life cycle controllers have been redesigned and combined to  incorporate the best of both worlds in a single package. These hybrid-style controllers are ideal for applications where a pneumatic cylinder will swing the door open/close and a power window will activate up/down.

• A large increase in environmental chambers       which includes 4 drive-in and 8 walk-in units.

• Additional off-shift staff with increased training to support ongoing projects 24/7.

• Increased internal synergy for test fixture capabilities including design and fabrication of various types of fixtures, base fixtures, vibration- rated, swing metal, etc.

So who are the people involved in these efforts?  They’re the people many of our readers know and communicate with on a daily basis, such as:

• DJ Whiteside (dj.whiteside@mgaresearch.com): Business unit leader. Accreditations include a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan State University and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Michigan – Flint.

• Andy Gould (andrew.gould@mgaresearch.com): Fixture group leader. Test engineer with expertise in the life cycle and environmental test fields.  Accreditations include a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor.