The Automotive Body Manufacturing Systems and Processes

A comprehensive and dedicated guide to automotive production lines, The Automotive Body Manufacturing Systems and Processes addresses automotive body processes from the stamping operations through the final assembly activities. To begin, it discusses current metal forming practices, including stamping engineering, die development, and dimensional validation, and new innovations in metal forming, such as folding based forming, super-plastic, and hydro forming technologies. The first section also explains details of automotive spot welding (welding lobes), arc welding, and adhesive bonding, in addition to flexible fixturing systems and welding robotic cells. Guiding readers through each stage in the process of automotive painting, including the calculations needed to compute the number of applicators and paint consumption based on vehicle dimensions and demand, along with the final assembly and automotive mechanical fastening strategies, the book's systematic coverage is unique.

The second module of the book focuses on the layout strategies of the automotive production line. A discussion of automotive aggregate planning and master production scheduling ensures that the reader is familiar with operational aspects. The book also reviews the energy emissions and expenditures of automotive production processes and proposes new technical solutions to reduce environmental impact.

• Provides extensive technical coverage of automotive production processes, discussing flexible stamping, welding and painting lines
• Gives complete information on automotive production costing as well as the supplier selection process
• Covers systems from the operational perspective, describing the aggregate and master production planning
• Details technical aspects of flexible automotive manufacturing lines
• Methodically discusses the layout and location strategies of automotive manufacturing systems to encompass the structural elements
• Features topic-related questions with answers on a companion website