subject: Automobile Platform - China First Aid Splints - Foot Splint Manufacturer [print this page] Definition and benefits Definition and benefits
A basic definition of a platform in automobiles, from a technical point of view, includes: underbody and suspensions (with axles) where the underbody is made of front floor, underfloor, engine compartment and frame (reinforcement of underbody). Therefore, key mechanical components that define an automobile platform include:
Floorpan, the collective pieces of the large sheet metal stamping that serves as the primary foundation of the monocoque, of most of the structural and mechanical components (still often informally referred to as the "chassis") Wheelbase, the distance between the front and rear axles
Steering mechanism and type of power steering
Type of front and rear suspensions
Placement and choice of engine and other powertrain components
Vehicle platform-sharing combined with advanced and flexible-manufacturing technology enables automakers to sharply reduce product development and changeover times, while modular design and assembly allow building a greater variety of vehicles from one basic set of engineered components. Many vendors refer to this as product or vehicle architecture. The concept of product architecture is the scheme by which the function of a product is allocated to physical components.
The use of a platform strategy provides several benefits:
Greater flexibility between plants (the possibility of transferring production from one plant to another due to standardization),
Cost reduction achieved through using resources on a global scale,
Increased use of plants (higher productivity due to the reduction in the number of differences), and
Reduction of the number of platforms as a result of their localization on a worldwide basis.
The automobile platform strategy has become important in new product development and in the innovation process. The finished products have to be responsive to market needs and to demonstrate distinctiveness while at the same time they must be developed and produced at low cost. Adopting such a strategy affects the development process and also has an important impact on an automaker's organizational structure. A platform strategy also offers advantages for the globalization process of automobile firms.
Examples
Originally, a "platform" was a literally shared chassis from a previously-engineered vehicle, as in the case for the Citroen 2CV platform chassis used by the Citroen Ami and Citroen Dyane, and Volkswagen Beetle frame under the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia. In the 1980s, Chrysler's K-cars all wore a badge with the letter, "K", to indicate their shared platform. In later stages, the "K" platform was extended in wheelbase, as well as use for several of the Corporation's different models.
Saab 9-3
Cadillac BLS
Opel Vectra C
GM used similar strategies with its "J" platform that debuted in mid-1981 in four of GM's divisions. Subsequent to that, GM introduced its "A" bodies for the same four divisions using the same tread width/wheelbase of the "X" body platform, but with larger body work to make the cars seem larger, and with larger trunk compartments. They were popular through the 1980s, primarily. Even Cadillac started offering an "J" body model called the Cimarron, a much gussied up version of the other four brands' platform siblings. A similar strategy applied to what is known as the N-J-L platform, arguably the most prolific of GM's efforts on one platform. Once more, GM's four lower level divisions all offered various models on this platform throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s.
1986 Opel Ascona C
1988 Pontiac Sunbird
1988 Cadillac Cimarron
Today, platform sharing may be less noticeable, however, it is still very apparent. Vehicle architectures primarily consist of "under the skin" components, and shared platforms can show up in unusual places, like the Nissan FM platform-mates Nissan 350Z sports car and Infiniti FX SUV. Volkswagen A platform-mates like the Audi TT and Volkswagen Golf also share much of their mechanical components but seem visually entirely different. Volkswagen Group and Toyota have both had much success building many well differentiated vehicles from many marques, from the same platforms. One of the least conspicuous recent examples is the Chevy Trailblazer and Chevy SSR; both use the GMT-360 platform. Opel Astra and Chevy HHR also share a platform yet are visually entirely different.
See also
2000 - 2004 Audi A4
Seat Exeo
list of Chrysler platforms
list of Ford platforms
list of GM platforms
list of Mazda platforms
list of Volkswagen Group platforms
list of Toyota platforms
list of Fiat platforms
list of PSA platforms
list of BMW platforms
list of Mercedes-Benz platforms
References
^ Brylawski, Michael. "Uncommon Knowledge: Automobile Platform Sharing Potential Impact on Advanced Technologies", pre-print for the 1st International Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE) Automotive Conference, 2729 September, Detroit, Michigan. 1999 by Hypercar, Inc. Retrieved on 2008-06-26.
^ a b c d Muffatto, Moreno (20 April 1999), "Introducing a platform strategy in product development", International Journal of Production Economics 60-61: 145153, doi:10.1016/S0925-5273(98)00173-X
^ Schlie, Erik; Yip, George (August 2000), "Regional follows global: strategy mixes in the world automotive industry", European Management Journal 18 (4): 343354, doi:10.1016/S0263-2373(00)00019-0
^ Ulrich, Karl (1995), "The role of product architecture in the manufacturing firm", Research Policy 24: 419441, doi:10.1016/0048-7333(94)00775-3
^ Muffatto, Moreno (1999), "Platform strategies in international new product development", International Journal of Operations & Production Management 19 (5/6): 449460, doi:10.1108/01443579910260766, http://www.emeraldinsight.com/Insight/viewContentItem.do?contentType=Article&hdAction=lnkhtml&contentId=849183&dType=SUB&history=false, retrieved 2008-06-26
^ Wilhelm, B. "Platform and modular concept at Volkswagen their effect on the assembly process" in: K. Shimokawa, U. Jrgens and T. Fujimoto Editors, Transforming Auto Assembly Springer, Berlin (1997), pp. 146156.
Air conditioning Automobile accessory power Car audio Car phone Center console Dashboard Flat tire Glove compartment RF connector Power steering Rear-view mirror Sun visor
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Categories: Automotive technologies | Automobile platformsHidden categories: Articles to be merged from February 2009 | All articles to be merged
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