Patent ID: 8082666

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a bodywork component of a motor vehicle that is first formed with a forming operation and then surface-treated under an effect of heat with a surface treatment, wherein the bodywork component comprises at least one metal structural element and wherein the method comprises the steps of: a) providing tool geometry data of tools to be used for the forming operation, nominal geometry data of the bodywork component as well as permissible tolerances of said nominal geometry data of the bodywork component; b) simulating process steps of the forming operation using the tool geometry data as well as calculating the geometry data of the bodywork component that are accordingly to be expected; c) checking whether the geometry data of the bodywork component that are to be expected lie within the permissible tolerances of the nominal geometry data of the bodywork component; d) provided that in step c) it has been established that the geometry data of the bodywork component that are to be expected do not lie within the permissible tolerances of the nominal geometry data of the bodywork component; e) modifying the tool geometry data and producing corrected tool geometry data and then repeat execution of steps b) and c) using the corrected tool geometry data; f) simulating process steps of the surface treatment under the effect of heat as well as calculating the geometry data of the bodywork component that are accordingly to be expected; g) checking whether the geometry data of the bodywork component that are to be expected lie within the permissible tolerances of the nominal geometry data of the bodywork component; h) provided that it is established in step g) that the geometry data of the bodywork component that are to be expected do NOT lie within the permissible tolerances of the nominal geometry data of the bodywork component; i) modifying the nominal geometry data of the bodywork component and producing corrected geometry data of the bodywork component and subsequent repeat execution of steps b) to g) using the corrected geometry data of the bodywork component instead of the nominal geometry data of the bodywork component; and j) starting production of the bodywork component using the corrected geometry data of the bodywork component as well as the corrected tool geometry data.