Method for scheduling a project to design and manufacture a multi-component assembly

A method of scheduling the design of a motor vehicle having a plurality of components, the method including:

• a. identifying a project completion date;
• b. inputting the projection completion date into a computer;
• c. determining a tooling lead time for each of the plurality of components;
• d. inputting the tooling lead times for each of the plurality of components into the computer;
• e. calculating a common design completion date with the computer for each of the plurality of components, the common design completion date being a function of the project completion date and the tooling lead times for each of the plurality of components;
• f. determining a design lead time for each of the plurality of components;
• g. inputting the design lead times for each of the plurality of components into the computer;
• and
• h. calculating a design start date with the computer for each of the plurality of components.

A method for developing a design for a multi-component assembly, the method comprising:

• a. developing a preliminary design of the multi-component assembly;
• b. identifying in the preliminary design a plurality of components which at least partially make up the multi-component assembly;
• c. developing a computer model of each of the plurality of components;
• d. developing prototype tooling for each of the plurality of components based on the computer models of each of the plurality of components;
• e. producing the plurality of components from the tooling;
• f. assembling the multi-component assembly;
• and
• g. collecting verification data to verify the design of each of the plurality of components.