THIS PAPER DISCUSSES A SIGNIFICANT BREAKTHROUGH IN SHEET METAL PANELMAKING TECHNOLOGY. THIS SYSTEM IS ABLE TO MAKE A VARIETY OF PANELS USING ONLY ONE DIE, WITH AUTOMATIC CHANGEOVER REQUIRING ZERO DOWNTIME. TWO SYSTEMS WHICH FABRICATE PANELS FOR RESIDENTIAL GAS FURNACES ARE USED AS MODELS. EACH PRODUCES SEVERAL VARIETIES OF CELL/BARRIER PANELS WHICH REQUIRE OPERATIONS SUCH AS NOTCHING, PIERCING, CUTTING OFF, FORMING, AND FLANGING. THE SYSTEM CONCEPT PROVIDES INCREASED FLEXIBILITY AND A SAVINGS IN PRESSES, DIES, AND DIE CHANGE EQUIPMENT. THESE FLEXIBLE POINT OF USE FABRICATION SYSTEMS MEET THE GOAL OF PRODUCING PARTS WHEN AND WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED, WITH ZERO INVENTORY, AND NO DOWNTIME FOR PART CHANGEOVER. THIS RESULTS IN SUPERIOR QUALITY AND ECONOMICAL PRODUCTION, WITH FLEXIBILITY TO ACCOMMODATE FUTURE PRODUCT CHANGES.