Ask I-CAR
Per I-CAR curriculum: Some parts are made from multiple pieces of metal welded together to form an assembly. If a part of the assembly is damaged on a vehicle, it may be possible to remove the original welds and replace just a section of the part at the original weld sites. This is called partial replacement at factory seams.
Part replacement, either through sectioning, or complete or partial part replacement at factory seams, is performed when parts are damaged beyond repair.
Sectioning is different than partial replacement at factory seams. Sectioning involves cutting and making a new joint or seam on a part"
Check out the I-CAR Collision Repair News article: What's The Difference Between Sectioning And Partial Replacement?
