What is Digital Manufacturing :
As per Wikipedia – What is Digital Manufacturing
“Digital manufacturing is an integrated approach to manufacturing that is centered 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 analyze all of the machines, tooling, and input materials in order to optimize the manufacturing process“
We can say that Digital manufacturing is the application of computer systems to various manufacturing services, supply chains, inventory management, products, and processes.
Here, we connect systems and processes across all areas of production.
This helps in creating an integrated approach to manufacturing, which includes, a better procurement process for input parts, design, effective execution of production process & servicing of the final products.
For digital manufacturing to be effective, one must have the correct information, at the right time, at the right place.
During this process, all departments and functions within the value chain must be linked together, and procedures must be spanned across them.
This impacts the whole product lifetime from design, manufacture, and maintenance of the end product(s).
The fourth industrial revolution is fuelled by the digitization of almost all stages in manufacturing. Software system enables manufacturers and users to build both big and tiny digital representations of items.
These goods may be viewed in enhanced and virtual reality and evaluated.
The pieces of the goods are wirelessly supplied through a cloud service internationally—the supply chain tracks and monitors all products and their utilization.
Digital Manufacturing Main Areas:
In the context of digital manufacturing, there are three dimensions:
- Product Life Cycle
- Smart Factory
- Value Chain Management
1. Product Life Cycle:
An engineering design is the starting point of the Product Life Cycle, and this leads to sourcing, production, and customer service.
All revisions that have been incorporated into the process, any deviations from specifications that have been approved, and how these happen across the lifecycle are digitally documented for every step.
- Smart Factories
Smart factories use smart machines and tools to provide accurate process and manufacturing technology feedback in real-time.
Digital manufacturing that integrates operations technology and information technology opens the door to greater visibility and control of factory processes, as well as a more efficient and effective way to optimize factory performance.
- Value Chain Management
It aims to optimize resources and reach value along the chain by minimizing costs and eliminating waste.
The result is enhanced customer satisfaction, optimal process integration, and decreased unnecessary inventories.
What is Digital Manufacturing and Benefits of Digital Manufacturing:
As digital technology evolves across us, companies are increasingly at a crossroads: the proven, tried, and tested ways are being transformed, developed, or stuck with.
The long-term advantages of digital transformation include:
- Data Optimization:
In the context of digital transformation, operational data is optimized, and manufacturers can use data more efficiently, including B2B eCommerce, ERP, CRM, finance, storage, and more.
With digital manufacturing, manufacturers can create a factory that is a connected, networked and fully integrated environment, enabling them to use real-time data analytics to optimize the entire manufacturing process, take better decisions and improve productivity ( by elimination the waste or redundancy).
By automating data exchange, efficiency is increased.
Also, we can prevent costly mistakes by avoiding data mistakes or misinterpretations.
- Enhanced Processing:
The possibility of digital transformation is revolutionizing the operation process.
To improve the life cycles of machinery, for instance, real-time information can assist in monitoring, resolve and even forecasting problems.
This helps in keeping the process error-free and prevents interruptions/breakdowns.
Digital manufacturing enables manufacturers to eliminate bottlenecks, reduce inventory, improve quality, shorten time to market, pivot quickly to meet customer needs, and expand the number of products made.
Now, Process, equipment, systems, or component changes are measurable in real-time.
This helps in designing an optimized & enhanced process, which in turn helps in increasing the turnaround time in the overall value chain.
- Innovation Enhanced:
An integrated optimization approach is enabled by a digital transformation strategy.
For example, using smart plant features in your ERP can help you enhance the efficiency of the organization and the distribution network.
- People-Centric
Companies can gain a presence among their customers by launching B2B online platforms with a dedicated portal for each region, brand, or client.
Furthermore, companies may utilize sales data, which precisely forecast and modify according to consumer consumption.
Benefit for small and medium-sized companies
Production has traditionally been the domain of large organizations with the financial means to invest in heavy machinery and sophisticated systems.
As a consequence of digital manufacturing, there are now more opportunities for SMEs to manufacture customized products.
With today’s digital technologies, small and medium businesses can do what they do best: offer specialist services and niche products.
Mass production is not king anymore; customization and agility are. Now with digital manufacturing, one can even achieve mass customization/ personalization & quickly roll out products as per each customer’s need.
Small-scale businesses are still capable of offering an optimized business operation even with a smaller workforce by implementing technology that can help better plan resources, manage supply chain operations, maintain customer relationships with a CRM, and utilize a BI dashboard (Business Intelligence).
In addition to the technology choice presented to SMEs, the need to invest in technology is also a challenge.
And not only this, but many small and medium-sized enterprises have no luxury to ‘pause’ when they create new systems.
It is undoubtedly a balancing act and may focus primarily on business needs and on whether technology will assist the company in achieving these objectives.
Key Pillar of Digital Manufacturing
These are the key pillars of Digital Manufacturing.
- Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)
IIoT broadly refers to a series of internet-connected sensors and devices that provide real-time data from across the factory floor, allowing for improved visibility for machine performance.
IIoT is helping in supply chain logistics. It is helping in reducing waste (either in terms of identification of redundant processes or products). This, in turn, is helping in saving time, energy & money.
This can be deployed/used for almost everything (shop floor machinery, lights, heating, ventilation, security systems, heavy equipment, and more.
2. Big Data and Analytics Tools
The increased number of connected devices in a manufacturing setting produces massive amounts of data.
Data analytics tools like artificial intelligence and machine learning help translate big data into actionable insights that are then used to project demand forecasting and predictive maintenance schedules.
Real-time data helps in taking better & accurate decisions.
3. Cloud Computing
Cloud services work as the backbone of many of these technologies. This provides flexibility.
One can get big computing power on rent, at any point of time & they need to pay only as per the actual usage.
No need for upfront investment. So, you can convert CAPEX to OPEX.
4. Advanced Robotics
Robotics plays an important role here. They help in the automation of repetitive tasks.
This results in improved efficiency, better worker/human safety & an overall better environment (by reducing the generation of unnecessary toxic waste).
Also, now with advancements in robots, we can look for the automation of increasingly sophisticated tasks.
5. Additive manufacturing
In factory settings, 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, allows for specialized production of unique or customized products and components
6. Digital Twins
The digital twin/thread is a 3D model of physical assets, operational systems, and structures throughout the factory space.
This virtual representation provides a holistic view of the entire factory floor & various machinery.
This helps in doing proactive & just in time, maintenance of various equipment.
7. Augmented Reality
With AR (which can include display tools such as internet-connected glasses), we can transform the manufacturing experience. AR helps in getting accurate, useful information for each machinery/asset ( It’ status, performance, real output or work/ task-specific information).
The Future Ahead:
Increasing automation of production processes is leading to a continued and growing use of digital manufacturing.
It is critical, however, to keep an eye on changes in the digital world.
Manufacturers must keep in mind that, even though digital transformation will occur in the manufacturing industry, it should not be viewed as a solution for a particular problem.
The intense global competition is forcing manufacturers to consider new business models while simultaneously committing to our existing money streams and finding innovative approaches to outwit the competition.
Conclusion : What is Digital Manufacturing
Digital manufacturing is the process by which companies design and produce parts and products using computers to take into account factors such as material availability, cost, and manufacturing process.
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