Over the last 10 years, the automotive supply industry, has had to contend with increasing global price pressures and a trend towards reduced „time to market”.
Consequently, Friction Material Manufacturers, in Europe,have been working with the Brake and Vehicle manufacturers to try to develop a rationalised procedure for Product Design,Development and Production Supervision.
A common test specification for passenger car friction materials, the „Global Spec.” has been created.
This Paper discusses a proposal for a similar „Global Spec.” for Commercial Vehicles.
The background and structure are discussed, together with the logic behind the programmes selected and the regularity of testing.
The Paper goes on to discuss some of the special test requirements of CVs and to propose some possibilities for yet further rationalisation.