Digital Technologies are enhancing the efficiency of manufacturing processes by eliminating the need for physical prototypes !

Akash Rathod, our next pathbreaker, Global Digital Test Lead at Scania Group (Sweden), solves problems for design in early stages by performing simulations. 

Akash talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about how digital factories are reducing not only time to market but also wastage, thus paving the way for sustainable innovations.

For students, Industry 4.0 is disrupting the transportation sector. There isn’t a better time to choose a career in automotives R&D!

Akash,  can you explain your background to our young readers?  

I am from Pune Maharshtra, and I studied Mechanical Engineering, I like to do meditation, play outdoor sports and activities. My initial interest was to become an athlete. My father is a school teacher and mother is a house wife.

What did you do for graduation/post graduation?

I did mechanical Engineering because I had an interest in Automotive and technologies 

What were some of the key influences that led you to such an offbeat, unconventional, and uncommon career in Digital Manufacturing?

My Interest in Automotives. Also, Mechanical Engineering was a very popular stream at that time. My interest in these areas led me to explore digital manufacturing technologies.

How did you plan the steps to get into the career you wanted? Tell us about your career path

It was not decided. I just wanted to get some normal job in the automotive industry and I got a campus placement during college. 

I started with my first company, Tata Technologies, as an Assistant Engineer in Digital Manufacturing department and that became my profile in rest of my companies 

I was a part of Advanced Manufacturing Group, where the task was to write and validate the assembly process for New Product Introductions for the JLR Passenger Car. We used to write and validate those processes so that shop floor operators could read it and assemble the part on the line accordingly.

My next stint was as Virtual Manufacturing engineer at VE Commercial vehicles. At VECV, I was working on Assembly Simulation profile where I used to perform Digital Simulations for New Products and resources through which we could reduce physical prototypes

Next at Dassault, I transitioned to the role of Manufacturing Solutions Architect where I got an opportunity to showcase the capability of 3D Experience platform and propose those to multiple OEM’s and get them onboard to use this software.

I joined Mercedes Benz R&D (India), which was my 2nd automotive brand after Jaguar and Land Rover at Tata Technologies. Here, I performed Assembly and Ergonomic Simulations in order to identify clash and feasibility issues early in the design stage. 

I have worked with Volvo Eicher, Dassault Systems, Mercedes Benz and currently working with Scania Group.

How did you get your first break?

My 1st break came through college campus placement 

I came to Sweden while working for a startup which was in the consulting domain. It is very difficult get a job offer from a big brand directly from India. After I came here, I applied to Scania (Sweden) when I saw a job opening in their job portal and then cracked the interviews.

What were some of the challenges you faced? How did you address them?

Communication is always a big challenge in the corporate world. I needed to enhance my leadership skills

Where do you work now? What problems do you solve? 

Currently, I work at Scania Group, Sweden. We solve the problems for design in early stage by performing simulations. 

We work with designers and process engineers as they are our customers. Starting from input, we get EBOM (Engineering Bill of Materials) from designers if they have changed anything or it its a new product. We then procure all the tools required to produce that product from process engineers , after which we put them together and create a whole digital factory with all stations that we have in the physical world. We start validation of all products by performing simulations activities in the digital factory which is also called “Digital Twin”.

What skills are needed for your role? How did you acquire the skills? 

I did some courses, practiced and watched some videos on YouTube 

How does your work benefit society? 

We help to minimize waste, which is much needed for sustainable development .We reduce waste by using more digital tools instead of papers or physical things

Tell us an example of a specific memorable work you did that is very close to you!

We finished one Digital Twin Project which was kind of an innovation for our organization 

Your advice to students based on your experience?

Keep developing your skills and keep practicing, analyze the job market and plan your education accordingly. 

Future Plans?

Not decided yet.