Test Capabilities Needed for a Full Service Supplier of Automotive Interiors in the '90s

A full service supplier (FSS) to the automotive companies must participate in the design stage, prevalidation, launch, and continuous improvement stages of all awarded programs. In order to qualify as an FSS, the supplier must have extensive experience in launching new programs, must be capable of providing design input in the form of component guidelines, and must be facilitized to validate the materials and components to the full realm of testing required by the vehicle manufacturer.

Textron Automotive Interiors, a long time interior trim supplier, is a full service supplier and this paper identifies the essential testing and validation capabilities needed by full service suppliers in the 1990's. Textron test engineers and technicians attempt to prove the component's ability to survive its expected life cycle whether the component is operated thousands of times (glove box) or operated once (air bags).