To significantly reduce development time and costs, concurrent work and change iterations (in reverse engineering approach) between design and manufacturing need to be evaluated and managed in near real time. Layout, workspace assessment and procedures, process analysis and validation can be analysed through the integration of multi-objective mathematical procedures, discrete event simulated environment and digital models (i.e., Digital Factory - DF approach). Across a digital world is possible to visualize and bear out and interplay all elements of the “future” growing factory/environment. Furthermore, brainstorms can be found on visual manifestation of hypothetical virtual environments. Expert analyst, from different fields and knowledge (like engineers and doctors), can eventually cooperate and meditate about optimization of procedures and processes on such a digital model. What is more is the possibility of resolving all design mistakes in a fictitious world (i.e., Virtual Reality environment). This significantly reduces the cumulative cost of change and time-to-market while improving quality of supply services. In this paper, a Digital Factory approach was implemented to analyze and optimize manufacturing as well as services environment. A continuous loop between virtualization and optimization has been engaged. The carried out cases study are the muffler assembly station of an Italian automotive company and the Emergency Department behaviour of an Ireland hospital. The visualization step was, in both cases, the system validation and the final optimization phase of a more complex discrete event simulated environment. Numerical outcomes of the DF approach will be manifested. The outputs will be produced in terms of layout and facilities improvements, space usability, product/service level and quality, costs reduction and profitability of investments. Concepts like ergonomics, workplace arrangement, flow characterization, paths analysis, human/quality/cost design will be exhaustively treated and prospected. Snapshots of the digital world will be portrayed.
The Digital Factory Concept from Manufacturing to Services Environment
FRUGGIERO, FABIO;
2009-01-01
Abstract
To significantly reduce development time and costs, concurrent work and change iterations (in reverse engineering approach) between design and manufacturing need to be evaluated and managed in near real time. Layout, workspace assessment and procedures, process analysis and validation can be analysed through the integration of multi-objective mathematical procedures, discrete event simulated environment and digital models (i.e., Digital Factory - DF approach). Across a digital world is possible to visualize and bear out and interplay all elements of the “future” growing factory/environment. Furthermore, brainstorms can be found on visual manifestation of hypothetical virtual environments. Expert analyst, from different fields and knowledge (like engineers and doctors), can eventually cooperate and meditate about optimization of procedures and processes on such a digital model. What is more is the possibility of resolving all design mistakes in a fictitious world (i.e., Virtual Reality environment). This significantly reduces the cumulative cost of change and time-to-market while improving quality of supply services. In this paper, a Digital Factory approach was implemented to analyze and optimize manufacturing as well as services environment. A continuous loop between virtualization and optimization has been engaged. The carried out cases study are the muffler assembly station of an Italian automotive company and the Emergency Department behaviour of an Ireland hospital. The visualization step was, in both cases, the system validation and the final optimization phase of a more complex discrete event simulated environment. Numerical outcomes of the DF approach will be manifested. The outputs will be produced in terms of layout and facilities improvements, space usability, product/service level and quality, costs reduction and profitability of investments. Concepts like ergonomics, workplace arrangement, flow characterization, paths analysis, human/quality/cost design will be exhaustively treated and prospected. Snapshots of the digital world will be portrayed.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.