Apr 23 2015
A new benchmarking method, presented today at the Society of Automotive Engineers International World Congress and Exhibition, provides automakers with a more comprehensive means to compare vehicle subsystem weights for better mass reduction target setting.
The methodology uses statistical regression analysis to isolate mass-efficient designs and compare lightweighting.
In a paper co-authored and presented by Dr. Donald Malen, University of Michigan Adjunct Associate Research Scientist, Department of Integrative Systems + Design, and Jason Hughes, Business Development Director, A2MAC1 Automotive Benchmarking, this statistical method was used to look at the A2MAC1 vehicle database of approximately 200 vehicles to identify those body structure, closures and other subsystems which are much lighter than the average, defined as mass-efficient designs. Additionally lightweighting gained by material selection for these mass-efficient designs was investigated.
“Frequently mass benchmarking of subsystems, such as body structures, closures (doors, hoods, decklids, etc.), suspension and others is done by disassembling a single vehicle or small set of reference vehicles. The data is then used to set mass targets for a vehicle under design,” said Malen. “The problem is that the limited sampling may not represent mass efficient designs, and therefore sub-optimal targets may be set.”
“A2MAC1’s benchmarking methodology, paired with statistical analysis, enables automotive designers to see where their own vehicles stand in terms of mass efficiency against a larger database of vehicles and evaluate opportunities for greater efficiencies,” stated Hughes.
The SAE paper entitled Mass Benchmarking Using Statistical Methods Applied to Automotive Closures, Paper No. 2015-01-0574, Donald E. Malen, Univ. of Michigan; Jason Hughes, A2MAC1 Automotive Benchmarking, details the methodology used and highlights examples and conclusions on lightweighting achieved in current production vehicles across materials.
About A2MAC1
Since 1998, A2MAC1 has established an elite position in the automotive industry through its expertise in the areas of benchmarking and related software. An independent company with a staff of 200+ based in the United States, France, Germany, Japan, China and Korea, A2MAC1 assists OEMs and leading global suppliers to collect, organize and deliver benchmarking data globally.
www.a2mac1.com