What is the state of the digital factory concept in manufacturing?
How do you define it? A: The concept of the digital factory basically derives from the application of digital manufacturing technology and solutions, including robust 3D modeling and simulation capabilities, to the production/factory floor environment. This entails building a 3D virtual representation of the physical factory: equipment, machines, robotic work cells, production systems, and the physical facilities. The idea is to accurately and virtually validate that the equipment and production systems will work when physically installed and commissioned. Today, virtual commissioning is one of the applications providing manufacturers with a real value proposition. Q: Which technologies are essential for digitally linking product design and development to production? A: An important aspect of digital manufacturing is the capability to build a digital/virtual production environment and then place the digital model of the product (parts, assemblies, sub-assemblies, etc.) directly into th
