lafirma

Client Representative:
General Motors - R&D Center; Research Scientist at General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Michigan

Project Description:
 Today’s “virtual factory” is a visualization method, useful for communication (i.e. someone can “fly thru” the factory with a virtual camera). A simulation engineer creates it and the “customers” are other engineers and engineering managers, not by the operators or for the operators or plant manager.  It is useful for assessing a defined process and layout, not for creating or changing one.

 The challenge is to engage the operators directly in the creation of the virtual factory, and to enable them to collaborate to change/rearrange the assembly process, layout, etc, to improve throughput, ergonomics, comfort, and to enable them to  “learn by doing” in a virtual environment.