Application of digital process simulation on an automotive production line

Abstract

This paper presents the work on the development of a digital simulation model for the transportation line in a local automotive manufacturing plant. It describes a structured procedure of data collection, digital design, model building, activity creation, and process simulation using simulation tool Delmia. Based on the digital simulation model, new alternative concepts of production line planning strategy can be easily integrated into the model to evaluate the cycle time/cost and to optimise the production line. The demonstration result indicates that digital simulation can be used as a powerful tool to reduce planning risk, identify material flow bottlenecks, and to improve throughput and knowledge share within the company.