An integrated approach to the analysis of automotive assembly activities using digital manufacturing tools. Issue 2 (18th July 2008) - Lambiase, Francesco
Current trends towards products customisation, increase of quality and reduction on delivery time are radically changing the products/processes design approach. Automotive companies, which continuously face product variant soaring, require new methods development for products/equipment design, manufacturing system planning and process simulation. This paper studies the stages needed to develop an integrated Digital Factory (DF) analysis to increase system performances and resources productivity. A three-step concurrent approach, namely activities balancing, task ergonomic improvement and devices redesign, carried out within 3D virtual environments is referred to an automotive case to demonstrate the advantages of DF over conventional analysis techniques. Finally, a costs analysis is reported to prove the economical feasibility of the advances suggested by such methodology.