Abstract. Springback behaviour of surface-machined 7B04-T651 aluminium plates of 3 to 8 mm thicknesses, creep-age formed under a single curvature bending radius of 1200 mm, has been experimentally investigated. The surface residual stress levels of the plates have been measured and the typical residual stress distribution and values in 7000-series aluminium alloys have been reviewed and analysed. Finite element models have been developed to simulate creep-age forming (CAF) processes and predict the amount of springback in the physical CAF test. Machining-induced residual stresses and distortion have been considered in the finite element models. This paper presents a first attempt to study the effect of machining-induced residual stresses on the errors of springback prediction in CAF of 7000-series aluminium alloy panel components. It has been found that the effect of machininginduced residual stresses on the accuracy of springback prediction is related to the initial loading stress levels in CAF. In addition, when the initial distortion conforms to the loading curvature, an opposing effect on the material's deformation is observed. Creep-ageing material constant related to effective creep strain rate.1 Creep-ageing material constant related to rate of age hardening.2 Creep-ageing material constant related to the depletion of solute into precipitate.3 Creep-ageing material constant related to rate of precipitate growth.4 Creep-ageing material constant controlling the effect of dislocation density (or creep) on precipitate nucleation and growth.5 Creep-ageing material constant related to rate of dislocation density.Creep-ageing material constant related to rate of dislocation hardening.Bending radius of forming tool.̅ , ̅ Normalised precipitate size and its rate term respectively. ̅ 0 Initial value for normalised precipitate size.Radius of revolvement of workheads of the flexible form tool.Creep-ageing time.1 , 2 , 3 , 4 Time of loading, heating, cooling and unloading respectively. Artificial ageing time.Solution heat treatment time., , Translational degrees of freedom in Cartesian coordinates., , Rotational degrees of freedom in Cartesian coordinates.Poisson's ratio., , Cartesian coordinates., positions of the lower and upper splines respectively.