A prerequisite for this is that someone in the company is familiar with the Digital Factory - and this is precisely where things often go wrong. Consulting and training or rather realization of the project by experts is necessary. And that's where VeMEMaS comes into play! “We are familiar with the tools of the Digital Factory and we are independent, and consequently not reliant on selling software!“ Jens Schlüter, industrial engineer and VeMEMaS expert is convinced: “Furthermore, we give advice solely based on what the company actually needs to achieve its goals. And this helps to save money!“

How must a product be designed so that it can be manufactured cost-efficiently? Which machines and how many of them are required to ensure an optimum usage rate; where is the best location, and how can times and number of tool changes be minimized? There are more than enough questions that need to be answered. The tools of the Digital Factory help to test all possibilities in advance on the computer. The best solution found is realized subsequently. When using this procedure, a company can save 30% of the cost alone during production planning and start-up, the savings within the production process itself amount to 15% - according to a study by Roland Berger (Hübner 2002). The higher quality of the products and production facilities also has a positive influence on the overall cost.

“Using the tools of the Digital Factory, processes, structures and procedures can be planned, analyzed and optimized holistically“, explains Schlüter: “And this is not as expensive as many entrepreneurs assume, since almost all components of the Digital Factory can be used on their own. Therefore, it is not necessary to acquire the complete package, and this is why the Digital Factory is financially affordable for small and medium-sized companies as well“.

According to the VDI Guideline 4499, “Digital Factory“ is a generic term for a comprehensive network of digital models, methods and tools integrated by a continuous data management. The simulation of processes, material flow, assembly procedures and robots are amongst the most well-known of these tools. Standardized recording of production process data is a precondition for the use of simulation and analysis tools.

Parts lists or CAD drawings of the products are stored in the product data management system (PDM system). “This database is the heart of the Digital Factory“, explains Schlüter who has more than 15 years of experience in consulting in the field of the Digital Factory. “Since most companies have already switched over their development to CAD in the past 20 years, a PDM system is usually already implemented.“

The tools of the Digital Factory build upon these product data supplemented by information regarding production and assembly processes. However, quite often these have to be stored first. The time spent on this will pay off in the long term because the data collected serves not only for internal and external communication but also for retaining knowledge and transferring experience within the company. And this applies globally, because data retrieval is possible in the subsidiaries overseas as well as in the specialist departments in Germany. Knowledge about products and processes and experience can be used constantly, there is no loss of knowledge when long-time skilled employees leave the company - an important issue regarding efficient working in groups of companies and in small and medium-sized companies alike.

Responsible for press information and enquiries:

Janina Krah

Telephone +49(0)7031 - 688-40-18
j.krah(at)vememas(dot)de