Factory planning has long since been done on computers rather than on paper. Consequently, there is talk of digitization, the digital factory or virtual factory planning. The modern procedure covers the entire process, from the idea to the design and actual planning process to commissioning.
What are the advantages of virtual factory planning?
Companies of all sizes and in all industries benefit sustainably from modern, digital factory planning. Some advantages are for example:
- Saving resources during construction
- Optimal planning of the various construction phases
- computer-aided identification of potential problems (amount of space, failure of a process unit) and their solutions (risk minimization)
- Optimization of the material flow in production, for resource-saving and cost-efficient manufacturing
- flexible and energy saving production
Definition: What is a digital factory?
Digital factory is the umbrella term for an interlocking network of digital models, tools and methods (for example simulation or visualization). With the help of innovative technology and software, the plant is holistically planned, implemented, controlled and optimized, including all processes and resources.
Digital factory planning also includes sub-processes such as production planning, planning of logistics, storage capacity, material flow and personnel. For this to succeed, special software must be fed with relevant data. These include: Size of the plot, room dimensions, material, production site, transport routes and the like.
