Custom machine building needs these 3 capabilities most
Custom machine building has become increasingly complex, and to stay competitive, machine builders need to adapt their processes and maximize efficiency every step of the way.
Forward-thinking machine builders prioritize certain capabilities and tools over others in their design, building, and commissioning processes.
The industrial machinery experts at Siemens have noticed the trends, and these are the three capabilities successful machine builders are using most.
1. Multi-disciplinary design
Most modern industrial machines are a combination of mechanical, electrical and software components.
Allowing different engineers to collaborate and work together more easily is crucial for creating the next innovative machine design.
Collaborative design isn’t anything new, but modern software tools have allowed the processes and data to flow more freely within a single, comprehensive digital thread.
Additionally, multi-disciplinary, multi-domain simulation and analysis has facilitated new and improved designs leading to increased productivity and improved energy efficiency.
2. Configuration management
Machines are most often built with different configurations to meet different customer requirements.
In modular builds, reusing parts can significantly save time in the design and planning stages, and it’s easier to forecast cost and profitability.
More configurations equate to more possibilities to manage and support.
Product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions can fully trace each configuration’s documentation and processes throughout a custom machine’s lifecycle.
3. Virtual commissioning
Commissioning a brand-new custom machine can be a time-consuming, labor-intensive process.
Virtual commissioning with a complete digital twin benefits the machine builder and the customer.
That’s because virtual machine function validation and virtual testing can be done in a fraction of the time it would take on a physical product.
Additionally, virtual commissioning can then accelerate the installation and commissioning processes once the machine is fully built.
Custom machine building with Advanced Machine Engineering
Siemens Digital Industries software combines these three capabilities into a single solution called Advanced Machine Engineering.
It offers an integrated environment supporting the creation and management of all domains on a common platform enabling developers to share data and status quickly, improve communication and reduce mistakes.
Click the button to read the white paper from CIMdata and learn more about Advanced Machine Engineering:
