ADAPT TECHNOLOGY
Engineering, metrology, manufacturing and staffing.
We design and analyze mechanical products, measure existing hardware, build prototypes, coordinate production, and place people on customer teams. Engage us for a specific assignment, a complete development program, or the capacity your team needs.
Design engineering • Simulation • Metrology • Prototyping • Manufacturing • Staffing
Founded in 1998. Based in Auburn Hills, Michigan.
The capabilities behind the work
A project may need a released drawing, an analysis report, a measured part, a functional prototype, or a team ready to work in your environment. Our services can be scoped individually or combined into a development program.
Design & Engineering
Mechanical CAD, product design, surfacing, design for manufacture and released drawings.
Simulation & Validation
Structural, thermal, flow, durability, crash, NVH and manufacturing-process analysis.
Metrology & Reverse Engineering
3D scanning, dimensional inspection, reconstructed CAD and first-article documentation.
Prototyping & Manufacturing
Functional builds, fixtures, fabricated parts, production preparation and manufacturing-partner coordination.
Additive Manufacturing
Printed prototypes, fixture components and low-volume parts, with engineering support when needed.
Staffing & Embedded Teams
Engineering, technical, IT, administrative and purchasing personnel, plus coordinated engineering teams.
Turnkey Product Development
A managed mechanical-development program connecting design, analysis, prototypes, inspection and production handoff.
Design & Engineering
Design and engineering for the part, assembly or complete product
We develop mechanical designs from early concepts, existing CAD, customer requirements and physical hardware. Work can cover a single component or a complete assembly, with the models, drawings and documentation needed for the next program stage.
Our design scope includes mechanical packaging, parametric modeling, industrial design, Class A surfacing, sheet-metal and molded-part design, and design for manufacture and assembly. We work in CATIA, NX, SolidWorks, Creo and Inventor, with the delivery format and customer standards established for the assignment.
The engineering package can include native CAD, assembly structure, material and process requirements, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, and release drawings. Where analysis, measurement or prototype work is needed, those activities can be included in the same scope rather than left for the customer to coordinate separately.
Existing designs need engineering too
Legacy CAD conversion, drawing updates, packaging changes, product benchmarking and redesign can be scoped without commissioning a new product-development program. We establish which information is authoritative and what must change before updating the models or drawings.
Concept
Define the geometry, packaging and functional requirements.
CAD model
Develop the components, assemblies and interfaces.
Release drawing
Document the dimensions, tolerances and manufacturing requirements.
Simulation & Validation
Understand how a design behaves before committing to the next build
We use computer-aided engineering to evaluate mechanical performance and compare design alternatives. The assignment may be a focused analysis of customer CAD, support for a design change, or a series of studies within a larger development program.
Our work includes structural finite element analysis, thermal and fluid-flow analysis, fatigue and durability, noise and vibration, crash and occupant protection, kinematics, and manufacturing-process simulation. The analysis method follows the engineering question, material behavior, loading and acceptance criteria rather than a generic test checklist.
The model is only part of the deliverable
A useful study identifies its assumptions, boundary conditions and material inputs, then connects the results to the decision the customer needs to make. The scoped output can include analysis models, result plots, a technical report, design recommendations and revisions to the affected CAD.
For molding and forming work, simulation can examine filling, cooling, warpage, material use and process feasibility. When physical testing or external qualification is required, its responsibilities and relationship to the analysis must be defined separately.
Structural & durability
Evaluate loads, deformation, stress and fatigue behavior against the defined requirements.
Thermal & flow
Study heat transfer, temperature and fluid behavior under the stated operating conditions.
Motion & mechanisms
Evaluate movement, interference, clearances and loads across the operating range.
Molding & forming
Assess process behavior, material use and the risk of distortion before tooling decisions.
Metrology & Reverse Engineering
Turn physical hardware into useful engineering data
We scan, measure and inspect components, assemblies and larger hardware using dimensional-inspection and 3D-capture methods. The work can establish an existing part's geometry, compare a build against its CAD definition, or create a digital starting point when drawings are missing.
Metrology assignments include CMM inspection, optical and laser scanning, prototype and tooling validation, dimensional reporting, and first-article support. The part, required features, surface condition, access and intended use determine the measurement approach and the accuracy that must be agreed for the job.
Scanning, inspection and reverse engineering are different jobs
A point cloud or mesh records captured geometry. Inspection compares measured features against specified requirements, while reverse engineering develops a model and drawing package that can support modification or manufacture.
For legacy hardware, we consider wear, interfaces and design intent rather than treating every measured surface as the original requirement. The deliverable may be scan data, an inspection report, reconstructed CAD, a drawing package, or a combination defined in the scope.
Prototyping
Build the hardware needed to evaluate the design
Prototype work connects the engineering definition to a physical part or assembly. We support early feasibility models, functional mechanisms, fixtures, development builds and production-intent prototypes, with the build method selected around what the customer needs to learn or demonstrate.
Available approaches include additive manufacturing, CNC machining, sheet-metal fabrication, welding, cast urethane, soft tooling and injection-molded prototype components. A program may combine several processes to represent the fit, structure, materials or assembly behavior that matters at that stage.
From a component to a development build
Our prototype work covers individual products, mechanical assemblies and vehicle-development builds. We can connect prototype fabrication with CAD revisions, engineering analysis and dimensional inspection so that build findings inform the next revision.
Alpha, beta and pilot labels do not define the work by themselves. The scope should state the configuration, quantities, materials, inspection needs and purpose of the build, together with the information to be recorded or returned.
Early prototype
Evaluate feasibility, packaging or a core mechanical function before developing the complete product.
Functional prototype
Evaluate the working mechanism or assembly, using the materials and build methods defined for the development stage.
Pilot build
Evaluate a small batch, assembly process or production-intent configuration before a wider release.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing support beyond the prototype
We support the transition from engineering definition to repeatable production through build planning, supplier coordination, manufacturing documentation and inspection requirements. The work can include short-run components and assemblies or coordination of higher-volume production through manufacturing partners.
Process options across the delivery network include machining, fabrication, stamping, molding, casting, extrusion, composite work, finishing and assembly. The source of manufacture, tooling requirements, quality responsibilities and delivery arrangement are established for the particular scope.
Make the handoff explicit
Production support should connect the released model and drawing to the part that is built. We help define the required revisions, material and process information, inspection evidence and supplier questions so the handoff is more than a file transfer.
Our work combines ADAPT engineering and build capabilities with manufacturing-partner resources. We identify those responsibilities rather than implying that every process is performed inside one ADAPT facility.
Additive Manufacturing
Printed parts for development, fixtures and low-volume use
Additive manufacturing can be a standalone parts assignment or part of a larger engineering program. We support prototypes, design-verification components, fixtures and selected low-volume end-use applications using in-house resources and additive manufacturing partners.
The available process range includes FDM, SLA, SLS and material jetting. Process and material selection depend on geometry, dimensions, surface finish, temperature, loading and the purpose of the part, not simply the file format supplied.
Single parts and small batches can be considered without requiring a complete product-development engagement. File preparation, design changes, post-processing and inspection are defined as part of the work, with engineering support available when the part is not yet ready to build.
Prototype parts
Use printed geometry to evaluate packaging, fit or a defined functional requirement. The selected material and process need to suit the question the prototype is intended to answer.
Fixture components
Develop components for holding, locating or supporting parts in an agreed application. Loads, temperature, wear and dimensional requirements inform whether a printed component is appropriate.
Low-volume parts
Consider additive production where quantities or geometry may not justify conventional tooling. End-use suitability, finishing and inspection remain part of the engineering and supply discussion.
Staffing & Embedded Teams
The people your team needs, in the working model the assignment requires
We provide staffing support across engineering, technical, manufacturing, IT, administrative and purchasing roles. The requirement may be a specialist joining an existing team, contract capacity for a program, a direct-hire search, or a coordinated engineering team.
Engineering and technical roles include CAD designers, CAE analysts, project and program personnel, lead engineers, technicians, manufacturing supervisors and production-launch specialists. Broader staffing can include IT project managers, programmer/analysts, network or database administrators, software professionals, administrative support and purchasing specialists.
A placement and an embedded team are different engagements
With an individual placement, the customer directs the person's day-to-day work within its organization. An embedded engineering team can combine an accountable ADAPT lead with coordinated design and analysis resources, defined deliverables and continuity across the assignment.
For engineering work, we establish the CAD platform, customer standards, working location, review structure and data-access requirements. For other staffing assignments, the role's responsibilities, required experience and working arrangement determine the search.
The breadth of our staffing services is separate from the scope of ADAPT's delivered engineering projects, which remains mechanical engineering. Placing a person into a customer's IT or software role does not imply that ADAPT is offering an IT-system implementation or software-development project.
Turnkey Product Development
One coordinated program from concept through production release
Some projects need several disciplines working to the same plan. We manage mechanical product-development programs that connect concept work, CAD, analysis, prototype builds, dimensional validation, supplier coordination and production release.
A program lead coordinates the scope, responsibilities and review points so that design changes, analysis findings and build feedback remain connected. The team and delivery arrangement follow the work, whether it is performed at ADAPT, at a customer location, or with reviewed build and manufacturing resources.
The output is defined by the assignment: native models, release drawings, bills of material, analysis reports, prototype hardware, inspection documentation and the information needed for supplier handoff. Customers can also engage us at an existing program stage rather than restarting from concept.
Engineering and delivery shaped around the application
The same engineering disciplines serve different products, operating conditions and organizations. We adapt the scope, documentation and working model to the application, whether the customer is an independent inventor, an established product company, a supplier or an enterprise program team.
Aerospace
We support mechanical design, structural analysis, legacy-hardware recovery and dimensional inspection for aerospace applications. Work can include airframe components, composite or aluminum structures, native CAD, drawing packages and AS9102 first-article documentation.
The evidence package and approval route are defined with the customer. AS9102 describes a first-article documentation process, not an ADAPT certification, and final acceptance remains with the responsible customer organization.
Automotive
Our automotive work includes vehicle structures, interior and exterior components, mechanical systems, surfacing, analysis, prototypes and production documentation. We support OEM and Tier 1 programs as well as aftermarket products and bounded engineering assignments.
Customer CAD platforms, drawing standards, revisions and supplier requirements are established as part of the work. The scope can connect styling and packaging to parametric design, CAE, prototype hardware and PPAP-format dimensional evidence.
Consumer Products
We develop mechanical products from concept and industrial design through CAD, design for manufacture, prototypes and supplier-ready documentation. The work can include housings, molded parts, mechanisms, assemblies and product improvements based on measurement or benchmarking.
We help connect material, geometry and process choices to how the product will be built. Manufacturing handoff is scoped explicitly; branding, retail distribution and market success are not substitutes for a defined engineering deliverable.
Defense
We support mechanical design, analysis, scanning, reverse engineering, technical data packages and prototype work for defense-related programs. The assignment may involve existing hardware, vehicle or platform modifications, qualification support, or engineering capacity inside a customer program.
ADAPT supports defense-related engineering in a self-assessed CMMC Level 2 environment. Data classification, contractual requirements and access arrangements are reviewed before technical information is exchanged.
Heavy Truck & Equipment
We support vehicle and equipment structures, chassis and cab components, mechanisms, durability analysis and legacy-part recovery. Engineering work can address loads, vibration, fatigue, interfaces and service requirements across heavy-truck and off-highway applications.
When original drawings are missing, measurement and reverse engineering can establish a controlled digital definition for redesign or replacement-part work. Wear, reproduction rights and inspection requirements are part of that engineering discussion.
Medical
We provide mechanical design, analysis, prototyping and supplier-ready documentation for external medical devices and surgical instruments. The work can support packaging feasibility, mechanisms, material decisions, functional prototypes and the engineering evidence required by the customer's quality process.
Our scope does not include implants or ownership of regulatory submissions. Design verification, manufacturing responsibilities and regulatory obligations must remain clearly assigned to the appropriate parties.
Tooling & Automation
We design mechanical fixtures, gauges, end-of-arm tooling and supporting equipment for manufacturing and assembly. The work can combine CAD, tolerance requirements, structural or motion analysis, prototype fabrication and dimensional validation.
Mechanical tooling support is distinct from PLC programming, electrical controls and software engineering. The scope establishes the interfaces and responsibilities needed to work with the customer's manufacturing team and other suppliers.
Independent Inventors & Startups
A project can begin with a sketch, a physical example or a problem to solve. We help define the mechanical requirements, develop the design, evaluate manufacturability and build prototypes without assuming the customer already has a CAD system or an engineering department.
The engagement can be a focused assignment or a staged route toward production. Confidentiality, ownership of deliverables and manufacturing handoff should be agreed before substantive disclosure or development work.
Corporate & Enterprise Integration
We integrate engineering people and deliverables into the customer's established program environment. That includes working in native CAD, following customer drawing and release standards, participating in design reviews, and coordinating with the teams responsible for suppliers and production.
The objective is engineering work that fits the customer's processes, not a parallel system that has to be translated at handoff. This service concerns engineering-team and workflow integration, not IT-system implementation or PLM administration.
Work inside the customer's engineering environment
Engineering integration starts with the practical details of how the customer works. We establish the CAD platform and version, drawing templates, naming conventions, revision rules, access permissions and review responsibilities before developing the delivery plan.
An individual engineer may join a customer-managed team, while an ADAPT-led team may own a defined set of outputs. Either model needs a clear boundary between engineering work, customer approvals, supplier responsibilities and the systems managed by the customer's IT or PLM administrators.
Native data and disciplined handoff help the customer continue the work after the assignment. Our engineering scope can include models, drawings, analysis, documentation and program coordination without taking over implementation or administration of the enterprise systems themselves.
- Customer standards
- Engineering work
- Review and change control
- Native-data handoff
Start at the point where you need support
Not every assignment requires every service. We define the work around the information available, the decision or deliverable required, and the people responsible for accepting the result.
Define the assignment
We review the objective, available information, constraints and delivery expectations. The scope identifies outputs, responsibilities, assumptions and any confidentiality or information-handling requirements.
Develop the engineering definition
Design, analysis or measurement establishes the technical basis for the work. Reviews address the customer's requirements and the information needed for the next stage.
Build, inspect and refine where required
Prototype hardware, dimensional inspection and analysis findings can be used to evaluate the design and resolve changes. The activities depend on the assignment rather than a mandatory development sequence.
Deliver the agreed package
The final handoff follows the scoped format and acceptance process. It may be a report, native CAD, drawings, prototype hardware, a production-support package or personnel contributing within the customer team.
Define the requirements before the work begins
ADAPT is ISO 9001:2015 certified. Project scope, review responsibilities, deliverable formats and customer acceptance requirements are established for the assignment rather than assumed from an industry label.
Our government identifiers are CAGE 5LA13 and UEI LY7KDRALJX98.
ADAPT is self-assessed at CMMC Level 2. We review program-specific security requirements and information-handling arrangements during project scoping.
Founded in 1998, with engineering at the center of the company
Brian and Annette Smith founded ADAPT Technology in May 1998. Based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, the company brings together design, engineering analysis, metrology, prototyping, manufacturing support and staffing.
Our work spans individual engineering assignments and coordinated development programs. The working arrangement follows the customer's requirements, with support delivered through ADAPT resources, customer-site teams and appropriate build or manufacturing partners.
Questions before an engagement
Can we engage ADAPT for one part, drawing or analysis?
Yes. Services can be scoped as individual assignments as well as complete programs. The next step is to define the required output and the information available so that the work can be evaluated.
Do we need finished CAD before starting?
No. Work can start from a concept, existing hardware, drawings or an incomplete model. We first establish what is known and what design, measurement or engineering work is needed.
Can ADAPT work in our CAD and PLM environment?
Engineering assignments can be organized around customer CAD platforms, data standards and working processes. Access, revisions, approvals and delivery formats need to be agreed; this does not include implementing or administering the customer's PLM system.
Can we request parts without a full development program?
Yes. Prototyping and additive assignments can be considered as standalone work. The geometry, quantity, materials, purpose and inspection requirements determine the appropriate scope and delivery route.
Is staffing limited to mechanical engineers?
No. Staffing can cover engineering, technical, manufacturing, IT, administrative and purchasing roles. Broader personnel placement is distinct from ADAPT's mechanical-engineering project delivery.
Who owns the engineering deliverables?
Ownership, usage rights, customer-supplied material and handoff obligations should be explicit in the engagement agreement. We address those terms before development work rather than leaving them to the final delivery.
Can we arrange an NDA before sharing details?
Yes. Begin with a non-sensitive description and identify the confidentiality requirement before sending detailed information. An NDA and a suitable transfer process should be addressed before substantive disclosure.
Can we send controlled technical information through the public form?
Do not send CUI, export-controlled or otherwise restricted technical information through the public inquiry form. Contact us first to discuss the program requirements and an approved information-transfer arrangement.
Tell us what you need to accomplish
Start with a brief, non-sensitive description of the assignment, the information you already have and the output you need. For staffing, describe the role or team requirement and the working arrangement.
If an NDA or controlled-information process is required, identify that before sending files. You do not need a complete engineering brief to begin the conversation.
Define the engineering question before the simulation
Define the engineering question before the simulation
A simulation assignment begins with the decision the customer needs to make. The starting information normally includes the governing geometry, materials, loads or operating conditions, interfaces and the criteria against which results will be assessed.
The scope identifies the analysis method, assumptions and expected output. Depending on the assignment, that output can include a technical report, result plots, analysis files, recommendations or a defined CAD revision.
Physical tests, certification activities and external approvals are separate responsibilities unless expressly included. Where inputs are incomplete, those gaps need to be resolved or documented before the results are used.
Choose the output, not only the equipment
Choose the output, not only the equipment
Scanning: Capture physical geometry as measured data, a point cloud or a mesh. The capture strategy depends on access, surface condition, feature size and the intended use of the data.
Inspection: Compare measured features with drawings, CAD or an agreed specification. The scope identifies the characteristics, method, reporting format and acceptance requirements.
Reverse engineering: Develop CAD and engineering documentation from physical hardware. Wear, assembly interfaces and design intent may require interpretation rather than a direct copy of every scanned surface.
One assignment may combine these activities, but their outputs and responsibilities should remain clear.
Define who owns each part of the handoff
Define who owns each part of the handoff
Engineering definition: Identify the governing models, drawings, materials, revisions and functional requirements.
Build resources: Identify the process, quantities, tooling, build location and use of ADAPT or manufacturing-partner resources.
Inspection requirements: Agree which characteristics will be checked, the reporting format and who makes acceptance decisions.
Production handoff: Establish the released package, open issues, supplier questions and responsibilities for subsequent changes.
The arrangement varies by assignment. Manufacturing support should describe those responsibilities rather than imply that every process, inspection or approval is included automatically.
One specialist, an embedded team or a defined project
One specialist, an embedded team or a defined project
Individual placement: A person fills a defined role within the customer's organization. The role profile, working arrangement and customer management responsibilities shape the search.
Embedded engineering team: A coordinated group works within the customer's engineering environment, with an ADAPT lead and agreed outputs, interfaces and reviews.
Defined engineering project: ADAPT takes responsibility for an agreed mechanical-engineering scope and deliverables. The scope may use one discipline or combine design, analysis, metrology and build support.
Engineering, technical, manufacturing, IT, administrative and purchasing placements sit within the broader staffing offer. Embedded engineering and project delivery retain their separately defined mechanical-engineering scope.
Fit the customer's engineering workflow
Fit the customer's engineering workflow
Customer environment: Establish native CAD requirements, templates, naming, revisions and approved access.
Engineering work: Define the components, analyses, drawings, documentation or program responsibilities assigned to ADAPT.
Review and change control: Identify reviewers, approval authority, change records and supplier interfaces.
Handoff: Deliver the agreed native data and documentation in the customer's required structure.
The customer or its designated providers remain responsible for IT-system implementation and PLM administration. Working within an engineering system does not imply taking over operation of that system.