{"id":66732,"date":"2025-06-26T16:48:17","date_gmt":"2025-06-26T20:48:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/?p=66732"},"modified":"2026-03-26T06:46:22","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T10:46:22","slug":"zf-uses-simcenter-end-of-line-quality-testing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/zf-uses-simcenter-end-of-line-quality-testing\/","title":{"rendered":"15 parts per million quality defects and beyond: how ZF uses Simcenter Anovis for near perfection"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ZF traces its roots back to 1915, when it was founded as \u201cZahnradfabrik GmbH\u201d (gear factory) to manufacture high-quality precision gear systems for Count Zeppelin\u2019s airships. These early transmissions were critical to the performance of the massive dirigibles, marking the beginning of ZF\u2019s legacy in high-performance driveline technology. Over a century later, ZF has evolved into a global leader in mobility solutions. Today, as the automotive industry transitions to electric mobility, ZF continues to lead: this time in partnership with Siemens, redefining quality assurance for the electric age.<\/p>\n\n\n

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ZF: From airships to e-mobility solutions<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

From gearboxes to electric drives<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

ZF\u2019s legacy includes milestones like the 4HP and 9HP transmissions and the first five-speed gearbox in Formula 1. Now, the company is applying its expertise to hybrid and electric powertrains, supplying components to major OEMs worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To maintain its high standards in this new era, ZF uses Simcenter Anovis<\/a><\/strong>, Siemens\u2019 advanced end-of-line (EOL) testing solution. Already integrated into over 50 global test benches and expanding toward 100, Simcenter Anovis is central to ZF\u2019s quality control strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Simcenter Anovis system for end-of-line quality testing<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Meeting the challenge of e-mobility<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Producing over 10,000 transmissions and electric drive units (EDUs) daily, ZF faces the challenge of ensuring each unit meets strict OEM specifications especially in noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH). Unlike ICE vehicles, electric drivetrains don\u2019t mask imperfections with engine noise, making NVH issues more noticeable and harder to resolve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ZF\u2019s solution is a comprehensive quality process powered by Simcenter Anovis. This system combines sensors, signal analysis, and flexible software to detect even the most subtle defects before products leave the line.<\/p>\n\n\n

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End-of-line quality testing of electric drive units via Simcenter Anovis<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

A longstanding partnership<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

ZF and Siemens have worked together for over two decades, evolving from early modular systems to today\u2019s digital platforms. Weekly meetings and close collaboration ensure that new features and improvements are quickly implemented. One major improvement is the order-based cepstrum metric for end-of-the-line fault detection<\/strong>, co-developed by ZF and Siemens. Once a complex manual process, it\u2019s now automated within Simcenter Anovis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cIt took all of us on the team, along with the Siemens experts, days of analysis work and troubleshooting in the past. Today, in Simcenter Anovis, a novice can do this special type of cepstrum analysis work. All they have to do is set the limits correctly and use the cepstrum curve and it works in ten minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Franz Knoppik, acoustical engineer at ZF<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n

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Simcenter Anovis integrated into ZF test bench software<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Tangible results<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The partnership has delivered impressive results:<\/p>\n\n\n\n