MUNICH—Simulation is helping BMW design assembly lines at the company’s new factory under construction in Debrecen, Hungary, more than two years before the scheduled official launch of series production.
Automakers around the world are transforming their factories with digital technology. The goal is to improve productivity and increase the efficiency of both people and equipment.
CHANGWON, South Korea—Automation has enabled LG Electronics to boost productivity, decrease defects and increase safety at its appliance assembly plant here.
Like many long-established car manufacturers, the company that would become Škoda Auto started in the early 1890s by making bicycles. Today, you won’t see velocipedes rolling off of Škoda assembly lines, but you just might see plug-in electric vehicles.
Milwaukee is home to a variety of leading manufacturers, including A.O. Smith, Briggs & Stratton, GE Healthcare, Harley-Davidson, Johnson Controls, Komatsu Mining, Master Lock, Modine and Rexnord. It's also home to an organization that's at the forefront of Industry 4.0 research.
In recent years, engineers have come to realize that motion control can be smart. This type of control involves machines that can digitally interact with operators, track each step of the assembly process, ensure quick product changeover and provide the real-time status of available resources.
STAMFORD, CT—More manufacturers are investing in digital twin technology. In fact, a recent survey conducted by Gartner Inc. claims that 75 percent of organizations implementing Industry 4.0 initiatives already use digital twins or plan to within a year.