Stamping Die and Sheet-Metal Design Support

Context

The company makes stamping dies and sheet-metal components for high-volume production. During this internship I supported the design office and the maintenance team.

What I did

• Supported the design of stamping dies and sheet-metal components in CATIA V5 for production lines exceeding 20,000 parts per month.
• Assisted with maintenance planning for hydraulic presses.
• Took part in Kaizen initiatives aimed at reducing cycle times and downtime.

What I took away

At this volume, small design decisions (how a die is split, where stock is supported, how easily it is serviced) show up directly in scrap, downtime and cost. Designing with the press and the maintenance crew in mind is what makes a die productive.