Factories in a computer key to more efficient cost-effective manufacturing

Citation

(1999), "Factories in a computer key to more efficient cost-effective manufacturing", Assembly Automation, Vol. 19 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/aa.1999.03319aab.008

Factories in a computer key to more efficient cost-effective manufacturing

"Factories in a computer" key to more efficient cost-effective manufacturing

Keyword Simulation

The traditional engineering blueprint may soon be a thing of the past, according to Virtual Manufacturing: Sophisticated Design Tools for the 21st Century, a new report from Technical Insights. Today's sophisticated design and simulation technologies allow engineers to build three-dimensional working models of each part, each component, oreven the entire factory within a relatively inexpensive workstation. Products can be tested in virtual reality, before the data are fed to computer-controlled moulding and welding machines, lathes, and milling machines for final production.

"Obviously, the time- and cost-saving offered by virtual manufacturing is enormous", says Peter Katz, publisher. "In the old days models had to be hand-machined for each part, to see if they would fit together. If something did not fit, the blueprint had to be revised, a new model made, etc., until everything finally worked together. But that is not all. The natural offshoot of virtual manufacturing is 'agile manufacturing', which allows companies to respond to changes in market forces, consumer demands and competitive pressures almost instantly."

Virtual Manufacturing aims to help corporate executives, engineers, and R&D managers gain a clear understanding of virtual manufacturing techniques and technology. It features:

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  An examination of the current state-of-the-art in computer aided design (CAD), computer aided manufacturing (CAM), computer aided engineering (CAE), design for assembly (DFA), and other components of virtual manufacturing systems.

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  In-depth information about more than 40 companies, university and government organizations, and standards-making bodies active in the field.

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  A look at the products that are already on the market and those that are still under development.

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  Market data and forecasts.

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  Existing patents in the field.

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  Contact information for key researchers in business, academia, and government.

Some of the companies and research organizations profiled in this report include: Sun Microsystems, Engineering Animation, Prosolvia Clarus, Computer Graphics Systems Development, Evans and Sutherland, MacNeal-Schwendler Corporation, Knowledge Revolution, Structural Research Analysis Corporation, Computer-Aided Design Software Inc., 3Dlabs, Hewlett-Packard, Intergraph, Institute of Systems Research, Sandia National Laboratories, Virginia Tech, Advanced Rendering Technology, Real 3D, Silicon Graphics, Stereographics, Penn State University.

Virtual Manufacturing: Sophisticated Design Tools for the 21st Century was produced by Technical Insights, a unit of John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

For further details contact: Peter Savage, Editor-in-Chief, Technical Insights/John Wiley & Sons, 32 North Dean St, Englewood, NJ 07631, 201-227-4910, USA. E-mail: insights@wiley.com;URL: www.wiley.com/technical_insights