Nobuya Kawamura
Economy of Scale
- Joby Background
- UAM Key Factors
- eVTOL Performance Requirements
- Reduce Materials Cost
- Reduce Tech Labor
- Toyota Background
- Automotive Key Factors
- Process Enhancements on Plastic Body Structure Applications
- Volume vs Cost
- Needs From Industry
About the Speaker
Work Experience:
Toyota Motor North America Inc. - Senior Executive Engineer / R&D - 04/01/2021 to present
Responsible for advanced development of light weight Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) material and processes for the primary structures of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) on the joint project with Joby Aviation. The experiences gained in CFRP material and process development for Formula one racing and Lexus LFA supercar projects, combined with the knowledge of Toyota Production System (TPS) from various mass production applications, such as the interior & exterior trims and engine plastic components, are the key asset to this project where solutions for higher level of efficient manufacturing volume at closer to automotive costs are required in comparison to what conventional aerospace industries are accustomed to.
Main activities in the current roll are as follows.
- Toyota/Joby Joint development of thermoplastic CFRP primary structure for airframe applications, by establishment of developmental partnerships with key technology providers
- General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Advanced Aircraft Engineering 10/02 – 5/19
Advanced Product Development Manager/Innovation Leader, executing new designs, development, and testing of Predator B, Gray Eagle, and Avenger UAS. - Toyota/Joby joint development of efficient and reliable thermoset CFRP production technology for the AAM applications by utilization of in-house production capabilities of CRFP components at Toyota
- Assisting Joby on the plastic glazing development by conveying knowledge and technologies from the automotive applications.
Work Histories and Responsibilities:
Start Date 2021/04/01
Toyota Motor North America Inc. Town and new mobility field
Major classification: Advanced development
Job title: Senior Executive Engineer
Main responsibilities
- Support for the development of CFRP parts, bonding process, and other plastic components for the current airframes and the development of next-generation airframes
- Advanced development for technologies relating to the lightweight airframe structures for the future aircraft
Start Date 2020/09/01
Toyota Motor Corporation, Mobility as a Service Division, Town and new mobility field
Major classification: Advanced development
Job Title: Project General Manager
Main responsibilities
- Build & support of 2.1 aircraft in collaboration with JOBY
- Development of CFRP technology for 2.1 aircraft
- Advanced development of CFRP technology for future 3.0 aircraft
Start date 2018/01/05
Toyota Motor Corporation, Materials Technology
Major classification: Organic material development
Job Title: Project General Manager
Main responsibility
- Development of metal/composite hybrid weight reduction technology
- Feasibility study of superconducting material search Energy
- Search for needs of energy harvesting technology
Start date: 2016/09/01
Toyota Motor Corporation, GR Development Division, Vehicle Product Planning
Major classification: Product planning for overseas development consignment and production vehicles (global)
Job Title: Group manager and Project General Manager
Main responsibility
- Development and planning of sports cars in cooperation with BMW
- Research and development of lightweight technology items required for the development of a dedicated sports car and product development
- develop lightweight technology for exclusive sports car development
- Change history Responsibilities
Start date: 04/01/2013
Toyota Motor Corporation, Advanced Technology Strategic Planning
Job Title: Group Manager and Project General Manager
Main responsibility
- The current/future position of the mass of each P/F representative vehicle of Toyota and the areas in which Toyota is losing.
- Clarification of the causes for the weight gain and construction of a scenario for achieving lighter weight against competitors in the each field of components.
- flag bearer for the entire company to clarify cost and productivity, and to determine development items that should be included in the product development plan.
- Promotion of advanced development of weight reduction technology
Date of start 01/02/2013
Toyota Motor Corporation, Product Planning Department, Vehicle Product Planning Group
Job Title: Chief Engineer
Main responsibility
- Development and promotion of weight reduction technology
Start date 01/01/2010
Toyota Motor Corporation, Materials Technology Development Department, Organic Materials Development
Job Title: Chief Engineer
Main responsibility
- Development of weight reduction technology using resin composite materials
- Development of CFRP material technology for the Lexus LFA Project
Start date 01/01/2004
Toyota Motor Corporation, Materials Technology Development Department, Organic Materials Development
Job Title: Group Manager
Main responsibility
- Development of weight reduction technology using resin composite materials
- Development of CFRP material technology for the Lexus LFA Project
Start Date 01/01/2003
Toyota Motorsport GmbH, Chassis Development Department
Job Title: Team Leader
Main responsibility
- Establishment and managing of composite R&D lab
- Establishment of metal surface treatment lab for bonding preparations.
- Development of composite material technology and parts for F1 motorsports, as well as adhesives and metal surface treatment.
Start Date 01/01/2000
Toyota Motorsport GmbH, Chassis Development Department
Job Title: Senior Engineer
Main responsibility
- Development of composite material technology and parts for F1 motorsports, as well as adhesives and metal surface treatment
Start Date 12/01/1993
Toyota Motor Corporation, Organic Material Division
Job Title: Senior Engineer
Main responsibility
- Development and reliability testing of plastic functional components for engines and chassis
Start Date 01/04/1991
Toyota Technical Center U.S.A., Organic material development
Job title: Manager, organic material Group 1
Main responsibility
- Prototype and evaluation of plastic interior and exterior parts for U.S. manufactured vehicles
- Development and evaluation of interior fabrics
Start Date 01/01/1991
Toyota Technical Center U.S.A., Organic material development
Job title: Coordinator
Main responsibility
- Evaluation of vehicle parts. (*) Prototype of resin interior and exterior parts in vehicle parts development. Interior parts
- 2 years and 11 months in the office/section Rim development evaluation. Development and evaluation of exterior plastic parts Fabric development and evaluation
Start Date 01/11/1987
Toyota Motor Corporation, Material Engineering Division
Job title: Engineer
Main responsibility
- Development of the polypropylene alloy material (TSOP) for automotive bumper facia
- Corporate wide cost reduction activity for plastic material procurement
Start Date 01/04/1987
Human Resource Division, New employee Training Dept.
Job title: Engineer
Main responsibility
- Learn and understand Toyota ways and rules
Education:
- Hokkaido University
Graduated 03/1987
Sapporo City, Hokkaido, Japan - International Christian University High School
Graduated 04 / 1983
Musashino City, Tokyo, Japan - Stephen Leacock Collegiate Institute
09 / 1980 - 06 / 1981
Scarbo09 / rough, Ontario, Canada - John Buchan Junior Highschool
09 / 1978 – 06 / 1980
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
