The usage of high-strength-steels allows for the reduction of a component's weight by reducing the sheet thickness. During the production process of such components, shear cutting is commonly used for the initial cutting process. One of the main challenges in the production process is imposed by the shearing operation, which yields high tensile loads on the parts’ edges. During the subsequent forming process, edge-cracks occur and therefore limit the forming potential of these materials. Studies at our institute focus on developing a new measuring method to investigate the formation of edge-cracks. This procedure called, an edge-fracture-tensile-test, helps to identify relevant parameters of the shearing process to avoid edge-cracks. The sample geometry resembles the shape of tensile-test-samples. The following test parameters can then be varied: die clearance, cutting edge geometry, and open or closed cutting line. The results show it is possible to influence the formability of cut edges by varying the process parameters.