Search Results

The scratch resistance of automotive plastic coatings has been studied extensively over the past few years. Most testing methodology to correlate damage of the coating to field conditions has been in the form of small particulate wearing, e.g., alumina oxide abrasive, or indentation resistance of the coating to an external probe, e.g., a nanoindentation device. The subsequent damage imparted to the coating has generally been analyzed by the amount of coating mass lost in the wear event or through a ratio of optical reflectance of the damaged area to the undamaged surface. In this paper, we attempt to delineate surface damage resistance of several automotive clearcoats through an optical interferometry methodology developed to measure volume and depth of damage incurred with small particle alumina oxide erodents in a simulated wear environment.

Two combined four-bar mechanisms have two functions: lift and collapse. In the current design, high effort was found for the collapse function. Axiomatic Design was used to analyze and optimize the current design. The customer domain was mapped into the functional domain by specifying customer needs in terms of functional requirements (FRs) and constraints (Cs). Design parameters (DPs) were identified in the physical domain for each functional requirement. Design matrices were then defined to characterize the product design. The two combined four-bar mechanisms have two functional requirements at the highest level: lift and collapse. The corresponding DPs are: lift four-bar linkage and collapse four-bar linkage. Through zigzagging to decompose to the next level, the design was found to be coupled. At this level, a torsion spring was selected as the DP for minimizing the lift effort.

Six Sigma methodologies in combination with Lean thinking have made considerable inroads as continuous improvement tools initially in manufacturing and more recently for service and transactional processes. There is considerable interest globally in training professionals on the use and application of these tools appropriate to either operational or transactional areas. It has long been realized that adult learning is at its best when participants are involved in relevant “hands-on” experiments. Six Sigma training has seen the use of class room demonstrations ranging from the use of playing cards, simulations and to the use of sophisticated experiments to illustrate concepts of factorial designs. This paper will focus on a series of simple but modular experiments that were developed over the past two years illustrating the application of all the Statistical tools that are taught as a part of Six Sigma Green and Black Belt body of knowledge.

A design framework based on the principles of lean manufacturing and axiomatic design was used as a guideline for designing an automotive component manufacturing system. A brief overview of this design decomposition is given to review its structure and usefulness. Examples are examined to demonstrate how this design framework was applied to the design of a gear manufacturing system. These examples demonstrate the impact that low-level design decisions can have on high-level system objectives and the need for a systems-thinking approach in manufacturing system design. Results are presented to show the estimated performance improvements resulting from the new system design.

This paper provides a technical overview of the components contained in an automotive DVD system. Discussions are limited to present in-vehicle applications of DVD-Video, DVD-ROM and DVD-Audio. Future papers will present the environmental operating requirements.