What are tailor-welded blanks and what are their advantages in body manufacturing?

Tailor-welded blanks (TWB) join different thickness or grade steel sheets before stamping, allowing material properties to be optimized locally within a single panel. For example, B-pillar blanks combine thick upper section for head protection with thinner lower section for leg room while maintaining continuous crash performance. Advantages include weight reduction (material only where needed), improved crash performance, reduced part count, and better material utilization. Challenges include controlling weld line position during forming and ensuring weld quality/consistency.