Vehicle Diagnostics - Are You Ready for the Challenge? 2001-01-3197

Fast pace advancements in vehicle technologies, and, in particular, in embedded electronics, coupled with continued pressure to reduce costs and improve time to market continue to challenge the automotive service community. In addition to having to keep up with developments in vehicle technology, strict regulation places increased burden in accuracy of diagnosis and repair, and conversely, open standards emerging from the infotainment industry introduce new challenges stemming from diversity, complexity and lack of regulation. Still, current diagnostic engineering and delivery methods are grossly inefficient and are too slow to respond to these challenges. Ill-equipped service technicians must face these challenges using inefficient methods and outdated information, resulting in increased repair costs and warranty claims, and decline in customer satisfaction.

This paper presents an enterprise approach to managing diagnostic knowledge. Instead of a late lifecycle-phase activity, this diagnostic knowledge management strategy makes diagnostic development an integral part of the vehicle development and manufacturing lifecycle. The strategy is centered on efficient methods to create, discover, re-purpose and disseminate diagnostic knowledge throughout the organization and the dealer network.