A Study of the Costs of a Production Deck Lid Optimized for Steel, Aluminum and Sheet Molding Compound

Alternate material producers have designed deck lids optimized for aluminum, steel, and SMC, in an effort to reduce fuel consumption by reducing vehicle weight. This paper presents the relative estimated cost of each optimized design. The costs have been developed by a single source so that the relative cost differences are derived from the same base. The costing methodology used for this effort is presented in detail in Appendix A. The cost represents the variable cost, which includes direct labor, direct material and variable burden. This analysis is based on production methods normally used to produce 300,000 units per year. Labor, material and burden rates are typical of the Detroit area automotive industry and reflect 1981 economics.