Digital
Manufacturing is an integrated approach to manufacturing that is centred
around a computer system. The transition to digital manufacturing has become
more popular with the rise in the quantity and quality of computer systems in
manufacturing plants. As more automated tools have become used in manufacturing
plants it has become necessary to model, simulate, and analyse all of the
machines, tooling, and input materials in order to optimise the manufacturing
process. Overall, digital manufacturing can be seen sharing the same goals as computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM), flexible manufacturing, lean manufacturing, and design for manufacturability (DFM). The main difference is that digital
manufacturing was evolved for use in the computerised world.
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| Vehicle Production Process (Source: F1 Manufacturing, 2016) |
Digital manufacturing systems often incorporate optimization capabilities to reduce time, cost, and improve the efficiency of most processes. These systems improve optimization of floor schedules, production planning, and decision making. The system analyses feedback from production, such as deviations or problems in the manufacturing system, and generates solutions for handling them. In addition, many technologies analyse data from simulations in order to calculate a design before it is built.
References
F1 Manufacturing. (2016). Vehicle Production Process. [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://f1manufacturing.com/news/
