SOUTHFIELD, MI- The Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG), a not-for-profit, member-supported organization that works with manufacturing companies and service providers, is partnering with the SAE International to launch a joint global sourcing engineering certificate program. The courses will help teach engineers, quality professionals, purchasers and other specialists how to improve efficiencies and cut costs within the global design engineering community.

"Our vision in creating this program was to develop a standardized learning platform that addresses inefficient practices within the automotive industry," says J. Scot Sharland, executive director of AIAG.

The global sourcing engineering certificate program consists of nearly 100 hours of class time and is comprised of nine courses taught by AIAG and SAE International experts. The courses, which are offered at AIAG's headquarters in Southfield, MI, and SAE International's office in Troy, MI, cover topics including project management, quality planning, patent litigation, implementing a statistical process control program, identifying linkages between measurement systems and using techniques of measurement system analysis.

"By partnering with AIAG, we've identified industry needs and developed a program to equip our leaders with the newest tools and knowledge to advance today's automotive commercial vehicle industry," says Kevin Perry, EdD, manager, Professional Development, SAE International.