Triz Engineering has introduced its "New Engineering" model at the ACT Expo in Las Vegas, targeting a shift in how commercial vehicle OEMs manage development risks. The company asserts that as vehicle systems become more complex — driven by electrification, software integration, and evolving regulations — the primary risk to program success has shifted from technology selection to execution.
According to the company, commercial vehicle programs frequently face challenges during the launch phase rather than the design phase. These challenges often manifest as launch delays, late-stage performance issues, and cost overruns.
“Commercial vehicle programs don’t fail because of a single technical issue,” said Dion van Leeve, vice president of Engineering, Advanced Technology at Triz Engineering. “They fail because of compounding misalignment, decisions made too late, systems not integrated early enough, and execution that isn’t structured to manage complexity from the start.”
A Structured Model for Delivery
The New Engineering model is designed to address execution risk through a structured approach to program management. The framework is built on four primary pillars:
- Specialization — Focusing on commercial vehicle systems to enable faster system-level integration and decision-making.
- Full-System Ownership — Managing the process from initial concept through integration, compliance, and production.
- Disciplined Delivery — Establishing clear accountability for cost, timing, and performance metrics.
- Right-First-Time Decision-Making — Grounding engineering decisions in application and production reality to minimize rework.
By replacing fragmented execution with focused delivery, the model aims to reduce variability and protect launch timelines for critical programs.
Delivering Engineering Certainty
The ultimate goal of the New Engineering model is what Triz terms "Engineering Certainty." Rather than selling engineering hours, the company focuses on providing predictable outcomes for complex, launch-critical programs.
“Technology uncertainty is something every OEM has to manage,” van Leeve added. “What they can control is how their programs are executed. Engineering Certainty is about removing execution risk, so outcomes become predictable, even in highly complex environments.”
Application Across the Industry
Triz Engineering currently supports various commercial vehicle OEMs and specialty manufacturers across North America. The model is applied to programs involving heavy- and medium-duty trucks, fire and emergency vehicles, last-mile delivery platforms, and commercial chassis systems.
These engagements involve responsibility for vehicle or system-level development, ensuring that integration and compliance requirements are met from the concept phase through to final release. By reframing the industry conversation around execution discipline, Triz Engineering aims to improve product success rates at launch for the off-highway and commercial vehicle sectors.
