Real World Usage Profile

[Hermann - 2011]

Any quick and cheap method of getting hold of real world usage profiles for automotive parts? Do Ford or GM publish data from customer surveys which indicate customer operational frequency.

 

[Marc]

I responded earlier, but re-read your post and - well, I'm on my first cup of coffee.

I don't know that anything is 'published' per se. Have you any contacts - engineering / design people - inside Ford or GM?

I'd look to the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) for that kind of information. You know they have that data - couldn't design parts without it.

What part(s) do you have in mind specifically?

 

[WALLACE]

Hermann,
I am a Ford insider, I would be pleased to help you gain any (Legal) information that may assist you in your quest.
What is it specifically that you need to know? I have very close contact with the six sigma office at the Oakville assembly plant OAP Ontario, Canada.
Wallace.

 

[Hermann - 2011]

I have an electronic component under the car hood which is occasionally subject to thermal shock. Worst case: cold winter start at say -30C, them immediately drive off uphill under full load with a trailer. How often can I expect this sort of mistreatment in a cars life (say 10 years / 100000 mls).

 

[WALLACE]

I would classify this as a reliability question. I would want to consider infant mortality rates and data for this component as well as make some assumptions on weather patterns and service conditions. i.e. suggest that the component should be able to handle 2 starts per day times 365*10 under worst case conditions -- the worst case condition may include thermal cycling not just cold starts.

Sources of test data would be the data from DVP&PV temperature component testing -- supplier will have this as well as SDS or specifications for testing and requirements. Hope this helps.

Wallace.