Going behind the wheel of a car, you are facing more than just traffic and possible bad weather – you also have a big chunk of processed metal on your hands, most parts of which have gone through metal stamping. Metal stamping is so much a part of our lives we just don’t realize it. It’s a big industry that does not get the media attention of other industries like pharmaceuticals and oil. The reason is probably because it’s more of a support industry rather than a finished product.
However, it’s everywhere. The computer you are using now has metal parts which have come from metal sheets that were pressed, stamped, formed, rolled to reveal a piece that the computer would not be able to work without. From your computer, walk over to your kitchen. Many of your kitchenware for cooking has gone through some process of metalwork including your kitchen appliances.
When you troop to your bathroom, the fixtures are also made of metal but even plastic items use metal moldings to create the plastic ware. Bed frames, mirrors, screws, bolts, tools – all these are items very much a part of our daily lives and they have directly or indirectly been through metal works.
Did you know that the auto industry in the US experienced a major breakthrough after years of being beaten down by foreign carmakers? In 2010, the US cars took first place as the preferred new cars of consumers. It was mainly because of a shift in attention from appearance and aesthetics to detailing in manufacturing. They took their cue from Japanese brands and began to pay more attention to the metal stamping in auto parts. Quality made a huge difference in the performance along with a new method called Failure Modes and Effects Analysis or FMEA. FMEA tries to catch an error or possible errors during the manufacturing phase and before the part go into mass production.
Reference: http://www.metalstampingxerom.com/metal-stamping/bending/