Durability Testing

Term from Automotive Manufacturing industry explained for recruiters

Durability Testing is a way to check how long car parts and complete vehicles will last under normal and extreme conditions. It's like putting a car through a time machine to see how it will hold up after years of use, but done in a shorter time. This testing helps make sure cars are reliable and safe for customers. Testers use special equipment and tracks to simulate things like rough roads, different weather conditions, and repeated use of parts. Similar terms used in the industry include reliability testing, endurance testing, or life cycle testing. This is a crucial step in automotive development that happens before cars go into production.

Examples in Resumes

Managed Durability Testing programs for new vehicle suspension systems

Conducted Durability Test protocols for automotive seating components

Led team of 5 engineers in Durability Testing and Life Cycle Testing of brake systems

Typical job title: "Durability Test Engineers"

Also try searching for:

Durability Engineer Test Engineer Validation Engineer Vehicle Test Engineer Product Validation Engineer Reliability Engineer Automotive Test Engineer

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you develop a durability test plan for a new vehicle model?

Expected Answer: Should explain process of analyzing customer usage, creating test schedules, determining acceptance criteria, and managing resources and timelines. Should mention coordinating with different departments and handling budget considerations.

Q: Describe a challenging durability issue you solved and how you approached it.

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate problem-solving abilities, leadership in coordinating with different teams, and experience with root cause analysis and implementing solutions.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What methods do you use to accelerate durability testing?

Expected Answer: Should explain common techniques for speeding up testing while maintaining accuracy, such as increased usage cycles or environmental stress testing, without using overly technical language.

Q: How do you document and report test results?

Expected Answer: Should describe experience with creating clear reports, tracking data, maintaining test records, and communicating results to different audiences including management and engineers.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What basic equipment is used in automotive durability testing?

Expected Answer: Should be able to describe common test equipment like shake rigs, environmental chambers, and road simulators in simple terms.

Q: What safety procedures are important during durability testing?

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate understanding of basic safety protocols, equipment operation safety, and data collection procedures.

Experience Level Indicators

Junior (0-2 years)

  • Basic test equipment operation
  • Data collection and recording
  • Understanding of safety procedures
  • Basic report writing

Mid (2-5 years)

  • Test plan execution
  • Data analysis and interpretation
  • Problem identification
  • Test documentation management

Senior (5+ years)

  • Test program development
  • Project management
  • Team leadership
  • Strategic test planning

Red Flags to Watch For

  • No hands-on testing experience
  • Lack of knowledge about basic safety procedures
  • Poor documentation skills
  • No understanding of automotive systems basics

Related Terms