Body in White — Know about Automotive Manufacturing
Automobiles have always been the greatest invention as it connects each and every part of the world. To manufacture them is a very long and complex process. “Body in White (BIW) “, sounds new? Well that’s great if it doesn’t. But if you heard this word right now, I will take you through the interesting facts in this journey. BIW refers to the stage in automobile manufacturing in which the vehicle body sheet has been assembled. This means that the vehicle’s body frame has been joined together including doors, hoods, trunk, bumper and deck lights. At this stage all the chassis assemblies are welded together before painting. Now that you know the basic definition, let us look into it in detail.
Automotive sector is the most demanding and competition sector with continuous technological development. The development in the automotive sector has led to introduction of new materials in BIW such as aluminium, carbon fibre, polymers etc. When it comes to automotive applications, chassis weight and the strength plays an important role. A chassis made of Aluminium could reduce the weight by 30% without reducing the strength. Choosing the rights material is very important for vehicle body dynamics. Hence, before jumping into BIW, you should have a grip on Sheet Metals Design, Surface modeling in 3D Software’s (Catia/NX) and then you will know about BIW Manufacturing process.
The basic structure of the Audi Space Frame (ASF) resembles a framework of a timbered building. The ASF principle assigns a specific task to each material and each component giving the development engineers a great deal of design freedom. An ASF body weighs over 40 percent less than a comparable steel construction. The body of the TT Coupé is about 206 kilograms; R8 Coupé weighs 210 kilograms and A8 weighs 231 kilograms (509.27 lb). When auto industry vehicles are steadily becoming heavier and heavier, Audi is reversing the “spiral of weight.”
What is in?
While the pandemic has led down all the industries, the need for developing a better design for vehicles at affordable price still persists. With the Make-in-India policy, the Indian established companies such as Tata Motors and Mahindra have tightened their belt to give tough
competition. All the established companies such as Toyota, Nissan, Tata Motors, Jaguar, Kia Motors and many more are hiring potential designers with specified skills. The job requirement as a BIW engineer has increased with 3000 + job vacancies. The Asia Pacific region was the largest market for body in white in the world in 2018. BIW designers/engineers work in design, and R&D departments of Original Equipment Manufacturers, design houses, and tier-one suppliers in the automotive sector. They are also offered jobs by technology companies that provide engineering & design services, Product Lifecycle Management, and plant automation solutions to automobile manufacturers. All Niche India OEMs R&D, Tier 1 Sheet metal suppliers, and Automobile Design Engineering Services companies hire BIW engineers.
BIW engineers in India earn somewhere between 3 lpa to 6 lpa in the initial stages of first 3 years. There is a huge demand and competition in the design sector. With increase in experience the demand increases so as the need for innovation. BIW engineers with experience earn as low as 12 lpa and it is ever increasing. All these might excite you as you now know how fascinating your career might be as a BIW engineer.
The Body-in-White Process Engineer will be responsible for sustaining and redesigning mechanical portions of the body center. This is a wide opening in terms of BIW Process Engineer in Tesla, Diamler, Volvo and many more.
- BIW market in the automotive industry is expected to grow form USD 77 billion in 2019 to USD 91 billion by 2027.
- The increasing global vehicle production of passenger cars, electric vehicles, light commercial vehicles and medium & heavy commercial vehicles along with a reduction in the vehicle weight to meet the fuel economy and emission standards are expected to boost the market.
- Increasing electric vehicle sales is another driver for the BIW revenue growth, as these vehicles require lightweight solutions in the form of material as well as manufacturing methods to achieve higher mileage by the battery.
The main factors behind the growth of the body in white market are the growth in production and expansion in the automobile sector across the globe. R&D is being done on Body in white material to optimize its strength as well as decrease the weight of the vehicle and increase its
efficiency. With the growth in electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles, the BIW engineers are developing themselves with the ever increasing demand. Racing sector is one famous and importance domain for you BIW engineers. So make your dreams come true. Skill up yourselves and show your love for automobiles. You are the Future!
Wanna become BIW engineer?
To become a BIW designer, you require
· An expertise on surfacing softwares like CATIA
· Vehicle Dynamics knowledge
· Skills on design fixtures
· Knowledge on manufacturing processes
· Sheet metal design
· 2D and 3D designs and Unigraphics
Aesthetics is an important parameter to look into in a vehicle to provide a pleasing overall appearance, surface quality and consistent details. The weight of the transported passengers and load as well as the mechanical parts are required for vehicle propulsion, control and other system functions. So vehicle must be able to withstand mechanical stresses from multiple sources. There should be easy access and adequate room for the driver, passengers and transported goods.
All the above skills and consideration will act as a stepping stone towards becoming an BIW engineering. Anything can be achieved with a great interest and hardwork. There are numerous online courses available which will help you go one step ahead towards your goal.
Career Opportunities
BIW designers/engineers work in design, and R&D departments of Original Equipment Manufacturers, design houses, and tier-one suppliers in the automotive sector. They are also offered jobs by technology companies that provide engineering & design services, Product Lifecycle Management, and plant automation solutions to automobile manufacturers. All Niche India OEMs R&D, Tier 1 Sheet metal suppliers, and Automobile Design Engineering Services companies hire BIW engineers. Linkedin has more than 200 job openings in BIW by various OEMS and other organisations.
