PURPOSE
The OESA Product Development Council provides a forum for executives managing and overseeing product development to address issues of common concern, share best practices and create practical tools to improve customer satisfaction through improved product development.

MEMBERSHIP
Council membership is available to OESA regular member company executives managing or overseeing engineering, product development, innovation or new technology activities. Membership is granted to executives from OESA regular member companies in good standing. Companies may designate two executives to act as regular and alternate representatives on the council.

Cost of membership is $900 per year.

2012 UPCOMING COUNCIL MEETING DATES
May 24
September 13
November 8

MEETINGS
The council meets quarterly at member-selected times and locations. Meetings follow an agenda and feature a roundtable format to discuss previously identified issues. Council members discuss topics and exchange opinions and ideas resulting in either a resolution of the issue or a plan for investigation and analysis. In some cases, issues could result in white papers presented to the OESA board of directors for approval. Results produced by the council are available to OESA members and the public for a reasonable fee.

Speakers may be invited to give presentations on specific issues or topics of interest. Such speakers are typically the leading executive or expert on the subject of interest from industry, academia or government.

Recent focus of PD Council meetings include:

* Current CAD situation and recommendations for greater industry collaboration
* Sustainability in vehicle and component design
* Product development, innovation or new technology trends and best practices

GOVERNANCE

The OESA PD Council is organized around a board of governors, setting direction of council activities and counseling OESA staff on programs and special issues. A council chair is selected by the board of governors annually. The council is accountable to the OESA board of directors.

The OESA Product Development Council is a functioning group of the Original Equipment Suppliers Association administered through the OESA office in Troy, Mich. For more information contact Keiyania Mann at 248.952.6401 ext. 236 or Click Here to E-mail.