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Our theme for this report is the "Dr. STAMP Method." In a press release for this technology, the following copy is unveiled: "This is a simple and revolutionary quality control method, used for preventative evaluations of forming cracks that occur when stamping the GA steel sheet (hot-dip galvanized steel sheet) that is used in great volume as anti-rust steel sheet in automobile bodies. The goal is to facilitate highly reliable prevention of that problem."
Among the problems encountered when steel sheet is used to build auto bodies is so-called "stamping cracks." The ability to prevent such cracking during the stamping process is critically significant as a solution for our customers. To find out more, we talked to three people involved in the development and introduction of this method.
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"Perhaps we could call this a matter pertaining to the Sumitomo Metals 'identity,' while it can also most likely be described as a typical development in the 'customer-comes-first' context."
Speaking softly was Hiroshi Takebayashi, who left the Corporate Research & Development Laboratories at Amagasaki to spend a little over a year and a half at a customer production site. There, he worked hand in hand with customer personnel in advancing this project.
This quality control method, and the device that brought the method to life, were introduced at a production plant of Toyota Motor Corp., the company highly touted as the global apex of quality control. We are not only committed to in-house quality control at Sumitomo Metals, but we also contribute to quality control for our customers by providing our expertise. This certainly gives us a useful look into wide-ranging prowess of Sumitomo Metals, which expands far beyond mere product development and manufacture. |
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