Cost-Optimized Process Plan with AutoFormplus R1

AutoForm Engineering GmbH, a supplier of software solutions for the sheet metal forming industry, has developed a new software module which enables the rapid and transparent definition of cost-optimized process plans. AutoFormplus R1 users can rapidly evaluate different process alternatives and gain insight into related costs.

Cost-Optimized Process Plan: Three different process plan assumptions for the same part lead to different costs and quality levels. (Source: AutoForm Engineering)

The current economic situation is forcing the fast-to-market production of quality parts at a low total cost. AutoForm’s new and unique approach to define cost-optimized process plans meets this requirement. It ideally replaces the conventional approach by which process plans are determined based on experience and subjective judgments. Users can now systematically evaluate multiple process alternatives and rapidly identify a cost-optimized process plan. The immediate benefits for AutoFormplus R1 users are:

-Rapid generation of multiple process alternatives
-Rapid relative cost evaluation for process plan
-Minimization of material costs
-Easy and rapid creation of reports for comprehensible internal and external communication

Easy and rapid downstream use of process plans for the development of die faces in AutoForm-DieDesigner and process validation in AutoForm-Incrementalplus

Dr. Markus Thomma, Corporate Marketing Director of AutoForm Engineering, stated: “Different production concepts for the manufacture of a particular part lead to different costs and quality levels. The newly developed process plan module in AutoFormplus R1 enables our users to rapidly evaluate different process alternatives and gain insight into related costs. As a result, users can define a cost-optimized process plan which ensures the production of quality parts at a low total cost.”