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Over three days at the ETAutoTech Summit in Bengaluru this June, I listened to OEM engineering leaders, regulators SDV platform builders and AI diagnostics startups present on subjects that appeared, on the agenda, to have very little to do with one another.
The conversation around sustainable mobility is entering a new phase. Across the world, governments, automotive manufacturers, energy companies, and technology providers are investing in battery electric vehicles, ethanol, compressed biogas, hydrogen, renewable electricity, and cleaner combustion technologies.
How should-cost analysis replace a single quoted number with an independent, bottom-up cost model, and what that changes at the negotiation table. For: purchasing and sourcing directors, category managers, VP supply chain, and design engineers at automotive, aerospace, and industrial manufacturers.
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When the target cost of a client for a machining component and a sheet metal component appeared 53% below the quoted price of the supplier, a bottom-up should-cost analysis traced the gap to two root causes.
A client seeking cost-reduction opportunities in a gas control valve assembly had already analyzed the plastic components but had no visibility into the printed circuit board and its electronic parts, because no bill of materials existed for that section. The solution was a physical teardown and reverse engineering of the PCB.
Starting from nothing but a finished, commercially available hair straightener, a structured teardown and benchmark study reverse-engineered the design architecture, materials, and manufacturing strategy of the product. There were no design files, supplier data, or internal documentation to work from.
Engineering leaders evaluating outsourcing in 2026 are asking a more sophisticated question than they were five years ago. It is no longer simply “should we send this work offshore to save cost?” The question is “what is the right mix of onshore engagement and offshore execution for a program this complex?
A global EV OEM and Tier-1 supplier needed CAD execution across a wide interior and exterior component scope on a Variable Platform Architecture program from design through prototype launch. Platform-sharing architecture leaves little room for late-stage design conflict as every component carries simultaneous feasibility, tooling, cost, and timeline constraints.
What existed was a relationship, one built over years of working together from 2004-2010, then stretched across nine years of silence, and eventually strong enough to become the foundation of a company. When Doug Smith, the founder of Goken America and I connected in 2019, there was no elaborate pitch. There was trust. There was a shared belief in how engineering work should be done. And there was a 3-seater office in Pune where we decided to begin.
An automotive OEM was running a front hood assembly on a passenger vehicle platform using heavy-gauge deep-drawn steel. The assembly was a 5-part stack with 40+ fasteners and a 35 kg total mass. The program needed a material and design reset to meet weight targets, address durability failures, and improve manufacturing economics.
A door inner carrier is the structural backbone of a door trim assembly as it holds clip bosses, mounting points, and trim attachment features, while contributing to door panel rigidity and NVH performance. Many programs still run this component in compression-molded natural fiber mat or conventional ABS injection molding.
GOKEN's metal-plastic hybrid rocker panel cut BIW mass 33%, consolidated 6 steel parts into 1, and passed FMVSS 214 side-impact with zero buckling.
Discover how urban mobility is shifting to purpose built vehicles, EV platforms, and last mile delivery systems. Learn what this means for future mobility engineering and city transport by 2050.
This program involved taking complete design ownership for multiple interior lower trim components on a new passenger vehicle platform. The Tier-1 supplier on this program did not have an internal design team. Goken team worked as an extended design team carrying full engineering responsibility from concept layout through tooling release across both LHD and RHD variants.
This program involved engineering a third-row quarter glass vent window for a battery electric SUV platform. The quarter glass was designed as a vent-opening window to provide passive ventilation for third-row passengers. Unlike benchmark vehicles where internal mechanisms are concealed by interior trim and BIW structures, this platform's design caused both the glass and outer seal to move during opening thereby unintentionally exposing internal plastics, wiring, and structural components to external view.
GOKEN engineered a rear wiper system for an EV drop-glass platform, solving complex packaging constraints from concept through DVPI using kinematics and should-cost analysis.
When most people think of a travel trailer, they picture weekend getaways and campfire evenings. What they rarely see is the engineering discipline required to make a towable structure feel as thoughtfully designed as a modern automobile.
On November 9, 2025, Goken Nihon’s leadership team attended the Japan Mobility Show at Tokyo Big Sight, Tokyo. From the moment we arrived, it was clear this was no longer a conventional automotive exhibition. The scale, energy, and diversity of ideas reflected a broader shift taking place across the global mobility landscape.
In an era where remote work, electric vehicle charging, and renewable energy adoption are surging, the demand for reliable home energy storage systems has skyrocketed. A innovative startup recognized this opportunity but faced a critical challenge
Goken successfully bridged language barriers, cultural differences, and technical challenges between a leading Japanese automotive OEM and a North American plastic parts supplier. By serving as an effective "bridge" through bilingual engineers, Japanese language translation and interpretation services, and coordinated global teams
Life at Goken India is shaped by people who bring energy, curiosity, and purpose to what we do. The workplace is welcoming and grounded in the belief that everyone grows stronger when we grow together. Whether someone is new to the organization or part of it for years, the environment makes it easy to belong, learn, and contribute meaningfully.
Global collaboration is central to Goken India’s way of working. Goken India which is a part of a global Goken group that includes Goken America in Dublin, Ohio, and Goken Nihon in Yokohama, Japan, plays a key role in connecting knowledge and expertise across time zones. This seamless partnership ensures that clients receive consistent, high-quality engineering solutions, no matter where the work is done.
Operating at the intersection of global collaboration and local capability, Goken India supports diverse industries such as automotive, aerospace, medical devices, and manufacturing. Working closely with Goken America and Goken Nihon, as well as serving clients directly, Goken India combines agility with global alignment. Every engagement aims to help clients bring better products to market, faster and with greater efficiency.
Designing complex electrical systems often involves organizing dozens of schematic views into formal engineering drawings. The manual process is complex and extremely time consuming to optimize the views spacing. One of our automotive OEM clients faced exactly this challenge.
Door closing velocity optimization plays a critical role in enhancing vehicle comfort, perceived quality, and safety compliance. This case study explores how our engineering team leveraged CAE simulation and design optimization to achieve a 22.8% reduction in door closing speed — delivering a smoother, more ergonomic vehicle experience.
When a leading escalator manufacturer sought to cut costs without compromising safety or quality, they turned to Goken for support through Value Analysis/Value Engineering (VAVE) and Should Costing methodologies. The goal was to reduce the overall cost of the escalator by at least 10% across multiple modules, while preserving durability and performance
An emergency pressure release valve in an electric motor’s battery system was consistently failing at the center due to a structurally weaker section. Despite increasing part thickness and adding multiple ribs, failures persisted. This weakness caused deformation under high gas pressure, leading to the plunger sticking in its housing. If the pressure could not be released, the battery risked catastrophic failure.
In combustion engine vehicles, engine sounds masked the hum and resonance from the road. But in quieter electric drivetrains, road noise became a noticeable comfort factor. Reducing it — without adding weight or cost — became essential for performance and customer satisfaction.
Discover how Goken engineers reduced tonal compressor noise in the 25–100 Hz range using NVH CAE simulations, optimized bushing design, and strong CAE-to-test correlation—improving cabin comfort without added cost or weight.
Automotive manufacturers face increasing pressure to design vehicles that meet stringent performance standards, especially in areas like Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH). Achieving this requires Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE), an intensive process that relies on advanced simulation tools, high-performance computing, and highly specialized engineers.
When a leading OEM faced a 50% premature failure rate in its front aero shield, it was clear that the existing PET-based solution, while effective against stone chipping, lacked the abrasion resistance to survive real-world road conditions. From rough urban streets to snow-packed highways, the shield was wearing out far sooner than expected, leading to costly warranty claims and undermining customer satisfaction.
In the North American market, the roof console sunglasses holder was only capable of holding up to 30 percentile glasses. This meant it could not store many of the larger, modern styles of sunglasses in use today. The issue was not just limited to storage capacity, but also fall out, while opening the holder and retention, in extreme uphill driving conditions.
The transformation of the automotive industry toward electrification, autonomy, and software-defined vehicles is often framed through the lens of software architecture, battery chemistry, or AI systems. But beneath these visible shifts lies a deeper, more foundational issue—the global availability and engineering implications of rare earth elements (REEs). These elements, essential to traction motors, battery packs, power electronics, and sensor systems, are quietly becoming a defining constraint in the future of mobility.
In wire harness design, accounting for potential movement and clearance is critical. To do this, designers manually created a bounding surface; an approximation of how much space the harness might need as it flexes.
A leading aerospace OEM faced major challenge in fastener design. Several OEM specific attributes were missing in the fastener library. So, designers had to manually create the fastener with specific attributes.
A major OEM’s design team was losing valuable time manually configuring welds. Repetitive design tasks and frequent back-and-forth over invalid weld parameters led to delays and rising development costs, making the overall process inefficient and error-prone.
At Goken, we know engineering leaders face tough challenges: misaligned BOMs, siloed teams, and PLM systems that create more headaches than solutions. That’s why we specialize in making Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE work smarter for your business—turning complexity into clarity and ideas into reality.
Across modern hospitals, one of the most overlooked challenges is also one of the most operationally disruptive: moving patients. The journey from admission to diagnosis, treatment, and recovery often requires a patient to be transferred multiple times
In today’s automotive engineering environment, structural efficiency and development agility are no longer aspirational—they are mandatory. As global OEMs face mounting pressure to deliver modular vehicle platforms across diverse markets, the cross car beam has emerged as one of the most strategically significant components in upper body structural design.
At Goken, we believe in equipping our teams with the knowledge and tools necessary to deliver engineering solutions that meet the highest standards of precision, performance, and quality. As part of this ongoing commitment, we recently conducted an in-depth training session on Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T)—a foundational capability for modern engineering design and manufacturing.
India is at the center of a massive transformation in the Global Capability Center (GCC) landscape, with rapid GCC growth in India positioning the country as a global leader in engineering innovation and digital transformation. What started as a cost-saving strategy has now evolved into a powerhouse of engineering, technology, and innovation. By 2030, India’s GCC market is projected to exceed $100 billion, with over 2.5 million professionals shaping the future of global industries.
The powersports industry thrives on agility, innovation, and the ability to meet evolving consumer demands. A leading Powersports OEM sought to expand its product lineup with a cost-effective Side-by-Side All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV), a versatile off-road vehicle designed for utility and recreation. With a compressed timeline of just 10 months and limited internal resources, the OEM faced significant challenges in balancing this ambitious project with its ongoing operations
Imagine driving a vehicle through city streets and then effortlessly transitioning into flight. The concept of roadable aircraft—vehicles that seamlessly operate on roads and in the skies—has evolved from a futuristic vision into a tangible reality. A Massachusetts-based startup aimed to pioneer this hybrid transportation revolution by developing a chassis system capable of performing in both automotive and aerospace environments.
The electric vehicle (EV) industry is growing at an unprecedented pace, driven by innovation and global efforts to reduce carbon emissions. EV manufacturers are under immense pressure to deliver cutting-edge vehicles quickly to maintain a competitive edge in the market. In this context, one rapidly expanding EV Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) faced a significant challenge in scaling its development processes to meet rising demands.
In today's globalized automotive industry, seamless coordination between international partners is crucial for successful project execution. The Japan based OEM faced substantial difficulties in coordinating with their American supplier. These challenges stemmed from language and cultural differences as well as lack of technical understanding of OEM processes. Goken had the opportunity to address because of their long term relationship with the Japanese OEMs and strong technology product development background.
n today's competitive business environment, identifying the right person effectively is crucial for organizational success. Choosing the right company to partner with can make a significant difference in attracting, developing, and retaining top talent. Below are a few tips to help you find the right partner to create a positive and successful relationship.
In 2022, Honda invested $124 million into building a state-of-the-art wind tunnel to “usher in a new era of auto development testing capabilities.” This facility, located at the Transportation Research Center in Raymond, Ohio, is on a level of its own in aerodynamic and aerocoustic testing.
At Goken, we offer a range of flexible staffing models to meet the diverse needs of clients across industries. Our unique approach ensures that each engagement is tailored to the specific requirements of our clients, providing them with the right talent at the right time. Here's a closer look at our models of engagement:
Goken India team recently moved into a new technical center in Pune, India. The technical center is in the heart of a bustling startup hub, Baner which has emerged as a prime location for office and residential spaces alike. The technical center is focused on providing a space for global clients to deliver future products while working with offshore team in a highly secure area.
Goken’s client, an Automotive OEM was designing and developing a defrost duct that helps to defrost the large surface area of the windshield. The current 3D printed design made by the OEM met regulatory standards, however it could not be mass manufactured as the construction of the airflow path and its geometrical shape made tooling non-feasible. As a result, the client requested Goken’s engineering team to come up with alternative designs that could be mass produced.
In recent years, electric vehicles (EVs) have dominated headlines and conversations as the future of automotive transportation. With their promise of zero emissions and sustainability, EVs have captured the imagination of consumers and policymakers alike. However, amidst the EV frenzy, another technology has quietly been gaining traction: Hybrid cars. Eco-friendly vehicles, dual powertrain, green driving
Global product development is a growing trend as businesses realize the benefits of this approach. In recent years, especially since the pandemic, automotive OEMs have realized they can slash costs by partnering with an offshore company while still having access to experts through their global pool of resources. This case study represents such a global team with Goken engineers in India working closely with engineers from Korea and supporting development for a Japanese OEM.
The automotive sector is currently witnessing a remarkable surge in innovation, driven by evolving consumer preferences, technological advancements, and a growing emphasis on sustainability. With the development of electric, hybrid, and autonomous vehicles gaining momentum, there is a parallel focus on enhancing in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems to elevate the driving experience and meet the escalating demand for connected cars.
With the rapid growth of technology post-Covid, several businesses are working remotely. Companies are partnering with offshore engineering services companies in engineering, software development, financial services and others.
The world around us is evolving, with technologies changing with the blink of an eye. In the automotive world, focus has shifted to enhance technologies to increase the safety and user-experience (UX) for vehicle owners. Vehicles are now equipped with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), which can assist drivers in case of potential dangers. ADAS uses Human-machine Interface to improve the driver's ability to react to dangers on the road. ADAS has enhanced vehicle safety by providing drivers with assistance in various situations, including collision avoidance and automatic parking to adaptive cruise control and lane departure warnings. These systems provide additional safety as they increase reaction times to potential through early warning and automated systems.
In today's fast-paced business environment, clients expect high-quality products and services delivered quickly. This is true especially in the automotive industry because product development cycles are shrinking while automotive OEMS launch several vehicles every year. The extreme pressure for rapid delivery can lead to compromises in quality and strain on resources, impacting employee well-being. To effectively meet client expectations and ensure sustainable outcomes, businesses need to find the right balance between speed and quality.
Design and development of vehicles require meticulous planning to meet the local regulations and customer preferences. The automotive industry in India is experiencing rapid growth every year. OEMs need to manage sustainable growth while solving challenges related to fuel efficiency, affordability and build quality to create vehicles that meet customer preferences related to efficiency, comfort and value
Product development is a dynamic process that involves various stages, from ideation to commercialization, aimed at introducing new products or services to the market. The ultimate objective is to fulfil customer needs, deliver value, and achieve the intended business goals. However, product development is by no means a linear task.
Any car or vehicle connected to the internet via a WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) can be called as Connected Cars. As the car is connected to the internet it can download/upload data for different purposes and communicate with the internet bi-directionally. The basic intention to do so is to make driving easier and safer by introducing certain functions via smartphones, real time updates and access to emergency services in case of accidents.
The Industrial Revolution of the 1700s was perhaps the most important change that the world had seen on a massive scale under a very little time frame. It was the transition to a new era of mechanized manufacturing processes with a huge upside potential of catering to the rising demands of the growing population.
The first part of this article segmented the electric vehicles by powertrain and battery chemistry. The second part focuses on the two other segments – Vehicle types and End-Use Applications... EVs are finding applications in different types of transport vehicles. Depending on the geography, some options are more popular than others. EVs can be classified as follows.
The automobile is at its turning point, yet again. Rising fuel prices, stricter fuel efficiency standards, environmentally conscious customers, and the race for CASE (Connected, Autonomous, Shared Mobility and Electrification) are pushing automakers to evolve rapidly. They are challenged with a huge task to take a strategic direction about the type of powertrain, structural and battery materials and the type of chargers and its infrastructure to deploy.
Semiconductors are, undisputedly, the brain of modern electronics. They play an important role in fabrication of electronic devices, which make our modern lives convenient. Chip manufacturing using elements such as silicon or germanium is experiencing robust growth. It has applications in industries such as telecommunication, healthcare, consumer electronics, and automotive.
Internal combustion engines have been around for more than a century. However, with the recent rise in fuel prices and ever going debate on climate change, IC engine manufacturers have come under tremendous pressure to provide clean and cheaper means of transportation.
"Social" Selling I don't begrudge this person – I'm someone who listens through the first wave. I have lived in their world – they're just doing a job in the best way that they've been taught to do it & they're trying to make a buck… the same as everyone else what this got me thinking about was how, in the talent acquisition field, we go about building our relationships.
Additive manufacturing (AM) or industrial 3D Printing enables lighter, stronger, and cheaper parts and systems. Several industries are pursuing the use of AM to expedite the time it takes to get their innovative and complex designs to market. The process uses computer-aided-design (CAD) software to build 3D models, which direct machines to deposit material, layer upon layer, in precise geometric shapes.
When bringing a new product to market, organizations often face the demanding challenge of quickly forming operational teams that are productive and cost-efficient. With tight timelines and deadlines approaching, you need to rapidly form teams ready to perform the second they step in the door. This is where we step in.
Have you ever heard customers talk about the car interior as “Too much plastic”? Chances are they are thinking of a vehicle from a few decades ago when Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Polypropylene (PP), Nylon, ABS were commonly used. In the last couple of decades, these materials tend to have Thermo Plastic Olefins (TPO) placed over the top of the plastic substrate to create a soft feeling in some of the automotive interior components.
Here is a challenge that is unique to start-ups and more specifically, EV (Electrical Vehicle) start-ups - Developing a product while also building the infrastructure that supports the development of this product. This includes PLM infrastructure with all its modules of requirements, configuration and change management, establishing processes around design and development, procurement, supplier integration. As this infrastructure evolves, there is a need to upskill existing associates and ensure that new associates onboarded are acclimatized to these processes and can effectively integrate into the organization’s way of product design and development.
The client saved approximately 100,000 USD in a year (9.5% of the development cost) while eliminating underutilized resources during valleys, minimizing overtime during peaks, and reducing dependency on Japanese engineering resources.
An OEM was experiencing over 90% turnover annually in their contractor purchasing roles. This turnover resulted in large amounts of overtime for their existing team. Extensive training was required for the newly hired associates in the purchasing department. This also reduced the amount of work contractor roles managed.
A Powersports OEM wanted to increase market share and expand their product line-up by adding a lower cost side-by-side ATV. The client had limited manpower and numerous projects in development. They approached Goken for staff augmentation support to assist the new product development that required a new body design and increased towing capacity to be delivered for evaluation within 10 months.
Automotive Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) often brings global suppliers onboard for their high-quality manufacturing capabilities. In certain cases, suppliers may not have local design support for close coordination with the OEM.
When resources are limited and deadlines are fast approaching, Automotive Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) reaches out to their trusted suppliers. Goken has been chosen for such tasks in the past by many of our clients. One such project required us to develop the chassis system and sub-systems for our clients’ Electric Vehicle (EV) in California. The project also required computational validation of components and the development of a system Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA)* and a Design Verification Plan (DVP)**.
There are numerous possibilities for using automation in the CATIA environment for optimizing the design. One way to do that is scripting, which involves writing code to execute a specific task. Another method involves writing a program in languages such as C, C#, and VBA to create new abstractions. The third approach is to develop an optimization algorithm that defines free variables and at the same time impose constraints and ranges to guide the optimization tool.
You cannot improve what you cannot measure. At Goken, we believe strongly in improving performance through continuous evaluation. We have been fortunate enough to work with clients who share our philosophy of continuous improvement. However, clients also realize that such improvement requires a process-oriented approach and a basic competency level.
When working in an environment that is fast-paced and riddled with disparate processes, productivity often suffers due to rework. A lack of organizational processes and work methods can quickly snowball into the organization not being able to release products on time or even diversify when needed.
On April 13th, as birds began singing their morning harmonies and locals began their weekend, a group of Goken team members was walking Interstate US-33 in Marysville, Ohio. No, walking the interstate is not something Ohioans do in Spring to “knock off the Winter blues”; we used the warming temperatures and time to volunteer and clean up the highway. Plastic, glass, tires, and even a paystub were removed as greenspace replaced waste, and jokes filled the flower-infused air.
Goken America, a North America-based engineering and technology company, announced the hiring of Chance Corwin, a Mechanical Engineering graduate from Clemson University, who was the inaugural recipient of the Goken America Scholarship for Mechanical Engineering students pursuing a Certificate in Automotive Engineering at Clemson.
Dublin, Ohio – September 19, 2018 – Goken America, a North America-based engineering and technology company, today announced that it again has been named to the Inc. magazine “Inc. 5000” list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The 2018 list provides a unique look at the most successful companies within the U.S. economy’s most dynamic segment – independent business. Goken America earned its spot recording a three-year sales growth of 66%.
On August 18, 2018, several Goken employees trudged up a trail along the Scioto River with garbage bags in hand, sweating, getting muddy, and getting bit by mosquitoes as they picked up trash and cleaned the waterways. However, there was no feeling of impatience to get back home or being forced to do something you didn’t want to do. Instead, conversation, laughter, and joy-filled the air. They were volunteering in the Mike Utt Memorial Scioto River Cleanup as a part of Goken’s volunteering initiative.
I started as an intern with Goken America working part-time with a client that focuses on tooling for large format plastic and sheet metal automotive parts. I was studying engineering education and this assignment was to map out the knowledge required at each phase of an associate’s career. After graduation, I took on additional responsibilities, but also continue the knowledge mapping engagements.
Every year the auto companies, industry press, politicians, and the general public get together in Detroit to see the bright and shiny new line-up… it is time again for the North American International Auto Show. Chris McClellan and I used this opportunity to follow-up with many of our current and potential clients during the Industry insider week. They shared company strategy, new products, and specific opportunities for collaboration with us. It’s not just the marketing teams in attendance, many of the product engineers are available.
The COE (Community of Experts) Annual Experience and TechniFair is a three-day event held to bring together expert users of Dassault Systèmes solutions. It is the premier Dassault Systèmes user-focused conference where attendees assess products and technologies close-up to evaluate the relative applicability for emerging needs. We network with other professionals to learn from each other in formal presentations, hands-on labs, or social interactions.
Goken America’s primary business is supporting product development in the automotive manufacturing market. The company’s commitment to innovation and technological advancement in this market is demonstrated by its involvement with the Ohio State University Center for Automotive Research. Additionally, Goken America has begun to expand into other manufacturing markets including aerospace, medical devices, energy, and consumer products.
