PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Auditing build quality
Pass/fail vehicles and identify production issues with a system developed to
automatically produce and save objective data for diagnoses and problem-solving
Example of the simplifi ed user interface of the Sonoscout VAS including the metadata entry, measurement and results screens
www.electrichybridvehicletechnology.com // January 2020 // 181
Vehicle manufacturers face
many challenges, including
to ensure the build quality of their
products and stay ahead of evolving
customer preferences. To meet
these challenges, there has been a
continuous evolution of upstream
in-line and end-of-line testing of
components and sub-systems. The
e ects of those methods have been
noticeable, but once o the assembly
line, other issues can arise as a
result of supplier parts or final
assembly practices.
The traditional method of auditing
vehicle production quality relies on
subjective evaluations by final drive
operators at the plant – the key word
being ‘subjective’. To improve and
drive quality indicators relating to
noise, vibration and harshness
(NVH), manufacturers must increase
the probability that they catch and
fix problems at plant level – before
shipping and without adding time
to current processes.
Manufacturers need a way of
objectively quantifying how their
vehicles perform in NVH tests as
they leave the assembly line. The
ability to capture, identify and fix
issues based on a data-driven
model – for example, high windnoise
vehicles – before they are
delivered could significantly reduce
customer complaints and expenses
from post-sale repairs and warranty
claims, as well as providing a means
for preventing reoccurrences.
The result is a net gain in
customer satisfaction, brand/
customer loyalty and a reduction
of production costs.
The Sonoscout Vehicle Audit
System (VAS) app is a versatile
and easy-to-use platform with the
key tools required for proper NVH
analysis built into the system, while
providing a user interface that can
be limited to a simple pass/fail
screen. The ability to acquire CAN
data provides a range of vehicle
data that can be incorporated into
evaluations and trace root causes.
Sonoscout VAS codifies those
tools into one automated process
that needs so little input that it
seamlessly integrates into existing
processes, acquiring repeatable
objective data and providing
real-time performance results. This
means there is no additional time
and an absolute minimum amount of
training added to existing processes
– providing the required objective
pass-fail results and root-cause
identification capabilities.
While Sonoscout VAS was
originally focused on the wind-noise
performance of a vehicle at highway
speed, it can be adapted to measure
many other NVH attributes. The
system is based on an o -the-shelf
kit and the underlying software is a
fully functional NVH measurement
and processing system with
a streamlined interface.
The GUI is streamlined with an
automated interface that requires
minimal interaction. The operators
are not distracted by the system
while testing, so the vehicle can
be driven by a non-NVH-trained
operator on public roads. Operator
responsibilities include microphone
calibration once per shift and test
metadata entry before testing. Data
acquisition starts and stops based
on an automated GPS trigger, and
data can be auto-saved to a
customer-specific site.
Once the data is acquired,
Sonoscout VAS uses a data-quality
screening algorithm, and the results
are compared to embedded pass/
fail criteria developed specifically
for the customer using data from
previously tested vehicles,
correlated subjective feedback
and the objective system output.
Stored test data can be used
to add diagnostic capabilities
and evaluate the e ectiveness
of implemented solutions.
Measurement results and data
derived from this, along with
the test recordings and CAN
data, complement subjective
assessments and provide objective,
traceable and actionable data.
Failed-vehicle data can be
reviewed and tied to specific issues
in manufacturing that can then be
acted on in a single shift. At the
same time, data is stored and
tracked over the lifetime of a vehicle
model so it can be analyzed for
trends. This enables R&D, NVH,
quality assurance and management
teams and departments to work
together to deliver better vehicles.
Sonoscout is easy to use for testers carrying out NVH analysis
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