Abstract:

When someone walks up to a microscope in a lab and tries to look at a sample, if they try and get the image in focus by turning the small knob then they will probably end up giving up before getting to see anything useful. You need to start with the big knob. When developing new materials and processes it is the same you first need to start with finding the big knobs; the things that are most important to what you are trying to achieve. Then all you need to do is to learn is how to turn the knob the way you want it to go. Framing problems and setting the requirements are the most important part of material and process design.

Biography:

Grant leads The Tesla Materials & Process Engineering, Metals and Ceramics Team, having joined Tesla in 2015. Grant has been working in Industry since 1995, starting in large scale manufacturing before shifting to design, development and applied research. Before joining Tesla, he spent a total of thirteen years at GM Holden in Australia. The first five years he was production metallurgist of Australia’s largest green sand iron foundry before transitioning to product development where he was a Metallurgical Specialist for global material development in Australia. During this time he was working on programs such as 2011 Camaro, Pontiac GXP and G8, Chev SS and Holden Commodore while also undertaking research for GM R&D. Grant has a Bachelor of Materials Engineering from the University of Wollongong where he concurrently completed a five year cadetship at BHP’s Port Kembla integrated steel mill while studying.

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