This study investigates solving production problems in an automotive stamping plant using Finite Element (FE) analysis. The fundamentals of stamping, metal plasticity and FE analysis are developed. In this paper, we provide the basis for a simulation of the stamping of a production part, the automotive rear floorpan. On-plant factorial Design of Experiments (DoE) were simulated using the floorpan model. The accuracy of the simulations was undetermined because of variability in the DoE results. Predictions of flange shape, wrinkling and thickness show qualitative agreement with manufactured parts and indicate that simulating an industrial part is feasible.