Secondmind appoints Yasuhiro Harada as strategic advisor

Secondmind has appointed automotive industry expert Yasuhiro Harada as a strategic advisor to the company. Harada, who brings a deep understanding of the current challenges and future direction of the automotive industry, will provide Secondmind with guidance on the automotive industry’s expectations for machine learning and help shape the company’s product roadmap.

Known in the industry as ‘Mr Model-Based Design’ following his many years at Mazda leading various development innovations including its pioneering model-based design, Harada brings a wealth of experience to Secondmind.

At Mazda he served as General Manager of the division responsible for the development of cutting-edge Integrated Control Systems, and also served as Principal Engineer providing technical guidance across Mazda's multiple R&D divisions.

Harada also served as the First Committee Chairman of the Planning and Management Committee of Japan Automotive Model-Based Engineering centre (JAMBE), an organisation established by the Japanese automotive industry.

A fellow of the Engineering Academy of Japan, Harada holds 169 patents, is the author of "Model-Based Development for Creation for the World's Best" and "Model-Based Development through Practical Training" and is a Representative Director at i-Models, a leading automotive consulting firm.

Yasuhiro Harada said: “Dealing with complex and sophisticated CASE developments is a significant challenge. I expect the collaboration of the next-generation AI and model-based design we have been working on is the key to saving. I remember the day and the shock when I first encountered the machine learning technologies of Secondmind. They will solve the most challenging problems that other AI has never solved before and will be a saviour that will break through the limits of human capabilities. I am proud to be contributing to this company.”

Gary Brotman, Chief Executive Officer at Secondmind, said:  “I’ve been incredibly impressed with Harada-san's practical knowledge of machine learning and his leadership in successfully implementing the theory of Model-Based Design in the automotive industry to virtualize complex components and reduce the risk of costly and time consuming rework from product validation and across the design process. Harada-san’s passion for transforming automotive engineering is inspiring, and I’m excited to see the innovation that results from his industry expertise and insights.”