End-of-line (EOL) testing is a crucial step in the automotive manufacturing process.
In order to ensure the quality of complex products, such as axles, engines or transmissions, automakers need a method for separating defective or out-of-spec units from those shipped to customers. Methods differ, depending on the type of product and the relevant features of interest, but they include hydraulic testing, noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) testing and roll brake testing.
In the case of geared assemblies, for example, the noise those assemblies generate can indicate manufacturing defects which can lead to both in-passenger comfort issues or even failures which risk passenger safety. Using NVH testing on geared assemblies at the end of the line can identify the early warning signals indicative of such problems.