Product category:
PLM and collaboration software
News Release from: Delmia
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 01 August 2003
Simulator to star in digital
manufacturing scheme
The Delmia Quest simulation tool is to be used in a test programme to incorporate digital manufacturing software in an engineering supply chain.
The Delmia Quest simulation tool is to be used in a test programme to incorporate digital manufacturing software in an engineering supply chain The programme, which is backed by the British Government, will run for 18 months and links aerospace original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs)
The goal of the project is to help SMBs reduce risks when making changes in manufacturing processes.
Recent studies suggest that to survive in fiercely competitive global markets, SMBs should continue to reduce costs by between 20-30% per year in order to sustain a market presence.
However, the cost associated with any potential change in manufacturing processes, both in relocating machinery and re-educating personnel comes at a high cost, according to the studies, and therefore brings with it a high risk.
The Northern Ireland Technology Centre (NITC), based at Queen's University, Belfast, is managing the project.
At the head of the supply chain is Bombardier Shorts, with Langford Lodge and Moyola Precision Engineering forming the links.
Delmia (UK) will provide Quest software, as well as consultancy and project management expertise.
Preactor International will provide scheduling software and work closely with both Delmia and Delfoi to create a link between the two systems.
Colm Higgins, Manager of the Business Process Centre for NITC explained: "The first step will be to generate an 'as is' 3D discrete event model of existing facilities and use this to identify and evaluate areas of improvement.
We will then apply new manufacturing methodologies and optimise these into a future model of the facilities.
This will enable the company to validate the impact of potential investments in plant and equipment and also to evaluate the effect of implementing changes in processes".
Tracy Doran, Technical Manager, Delmia UK commented: "By bringing world class manufacturing to SMBs through this project, the lessons learned will provide the impetus for SMBs in manufacturing through the UK.
The drive to cut costs appears to be currently stifling initiative and investment in technology.
The results from this program will detail projected savings based on our simulated models, along with an implementation plan or proposed future actions for each of the recipients, thus proving that digital manufacturing provides the only logical way ahead for modern manufacturing whatever the size of the organisation".
Projected benefits to the companies involved in the project include: reduced risk; high return on investment; higher quality manufacturing processes; lower manufacturing process development costs; reduced inventory by 50-90%; increased floor usage; enhanced direct and indirect labour productivity by 20-50%; improved equipment capacity by 30-40%; lower manufacturing lead times by 80-90%; and improved quality by reducing scrap and rework 40-50%.
Quest is an interactive, 3D simulation tool aimed at all batch process manufacturing and is capable of producing textured virtual reality flythroughs.
Quest provides high quality, 3D geometrically and dimensionally correct models, which operate at user-defined speeds, including real time.
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