Automobile manufacturers recognize that supplying the optimum types of service sheet metal parts for use in collision repair is essential to assure that high-quality, cost-effective repairs can be performed for their customers. However, over the past 15 years or so the processes that OEMs utilize to design, release and manufacture these parts have become increasingly complex. The primary drivers of this increased complexity are changes in body sheet metal designs, automation of manufacturing processes and re-sourcing of production parts.
The purposes of this paper are to explain the sources of this increasing complexity and their effects on service sheet metal parts, provide general design principles and propose a design and release process. Among the specific topics covered are 1) service sheet metal parts defined, 2) why they are important, 3) factors influencing the increasing complexity of designing and releasing service sheet metal parts, 4) the types of service sheet metal parts preferred by collision repair technicians, 5) classifications of service sheet metal parts, 6) service sheet metal design principles, 7) a proposed design and release process for service sheet metal parts, and 8) a design check list for service sheet metal parts.
Utilization of the design principles, guidelines, and process can minimize total collision repair, design, and manufacturing costs; improve the efficiency of the design and release process, improve the quality of collision repairs; and minimize the likelihood for costly changes late in the product development process.