The methods of analysis and result verification which - as a function of the different stages of Product development - contribute to the achievement of Quality objectives so as to favour engineering process management and control, include the following techniques and verification tools:

• Risk analysis and feasibility;;
  
• Cost analysis and Value engineering;
  
• Design change impact analysis;
  
• Product/process benchmarking;
  
• Failure mode and effects analysis [Design-FMER];
  
• Finite element analysis [FEA] and CAE simulation;
  
• DFM [Design for manufacturing];
  
• DFA [Design for assembly];
  
• Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing [GO&T];
  
• Digital Mock Up [DMU];
  
• Static design verification;
  
• Experimental and reliability checks;
  
• Use of feedback from testing, production and the field;
  
• Checks on design outputs;
  
• Design reviews and design validation.
  

In particular, the identification of the most advantageous engineering solutions is supported by the most advanced virtual validation tools that carry out design and simulation tasks through the integration of CAE/DMU/VIRTUAL REALITY SYSTEM; as a result, prototype testing activities can be preceded by a virtual release affording a high degree of reliability. In this manner, Customers may profit from a reduction in product development costs, a higher degree of reliability in product development, and reduced TTM.

The use of DMU techniques makes it possible to prevent geometric anomalies in term of interference, backlash and profiles, and to simuḷate mountability checks at CAD station, so as to reduce to the minimum the problems that are generally found at tge stage of Design Verification, and to minimise the design modification that cause higher costs and longer development schedules.

STOLA uses the latest virtual verification technologies for engineering processes. To this purpose it has set up two Virtual Reality Centers, where 1:1 scale virtual vehicle models are displayed in an interactive manner within an environment and can be subjected to aesthetic, ergonomic and sensitive checks as well as technical simulations. These simulations provide optimal support to Customer company styling decisions, since it proves possible to evaluate the overall effects of bodywork design and to the check the minutest details from all points of observation, while taking into due account ergonomic, legal and type-approval requirements.