Excel as a Bridge: Plant Simulation User Conference 2025

Join us July 2nd, 2025 | Plant Simulation User Conference | RAI Amsterdam

When data systems aren’t connected—or when full database integration just isn’t feasible—there’s still a smart, efficient way to keep simulation projects moving forward. At the upcoming Plant Simulation User Conference 2025, we’re excited to present:
“Excel as a Bridge: Efficiency and Flexibility in Simulation When Databases Aren’t Ready.”

This session dives into a practical, scalable solution that has helped internal teams in the automotive industry—and beyond—unlock more from Tecnomatix Plant Simulation. The method? Leveraging pre-templated Excel tables to load and manage simulation data with speed, accuracy, and ease.

Natalia Weis – AME Simulation Engineer, Lear Corporation (Slovakia)
With a background in industrial engineering and a PhD focus on adaptive manufacturing systems, Natalia Weis brings a strong academic foundation and hands-on experience to her role as a Simulation Engineer at Lear Corporation. Over the past two years, she has specialized in applying Tecnomatix Plant Simulation to verify production system designs and improve operational efficiency. At this year’s Plant Simulation User Conference, Natalia will present “Excel as a Bridge, Efficiency and Flexibility in Simulation When Databases Aren’t Ready,” sharing practical insights from her work supporting internal automotive projects. Her session will highlight how pre-templated Excel tables can simplify data integration, boost model flexibility, and help teams deliver reliable simulations even without connected data systems. Attendees can expect actionable tips, best practices, and real-world examples that make simulation workflows more accessible and effective across industries.

Cristina Palomares – Simulation Project Manager, Lear Corporation
With a solid background in Industrial Engineering and expertise in Models & Quantitative Methods, Cristina Palomares has been working with Tecnomatix Plant Simulation since 2017. She joined Lear Corporation in April 2021, where she now serves as a Simulation Project Manager, leading initiatives focused on simulation-driven decision-making and operational improvement. Cristina plays a key role in driving standardization efforts across simulation projects, ensuring consistency, scalability, and efficiency in modeling practices. Her deep experience with TPS, combined with her strategic approach to project execution, positions her as a vital contributor to Lear’s global simulation capabilities.

💡 Why Excel? Why Now?

Simulation projects are often stalled by disconnected systems or complex data preparation. This Excel-based method addresses the issue head-on, offering:

✅ Time savings through automation
✅ Error reduction with standardization
✅ Accessibility for users at any experience level

Whether you’re prototyping a new production line or refining a mature simulation model, these Excel templates help simplify and accelerate the process—without the need for database integration or deep technical know-how.

🚀 What You’ll Learn

How pre-designed Excel templates can standardize and streamline the process of importing data into Plant Simulation.
Ways to increase flexibility by supporting multiple Excel files for a single model—perfect for adjusting scenarios, rebalancing resources, or running experiments.
Real-world success stories and practical demonstrations from automotive simulation projects that benefited from this approach.

🔑 Key Takeaways

The Power of Pre-Templated Excel Tables
Learn how Excel can act as a bridge between your data and simulation tools. With intuitive templates, teams can load, manage, and update simulation data efficiently—cutting setup time and minimizing user errors.
Flexibility at Its Best
Whether you’re dealing with a small dataset or a full-scale production model, Excel templates offer modularity and control. Users can fine-tune inputs without modifying the simulation logic—making it easy to explore alternatives and respond to change.
Best Practices for Success
Discover how standardizing your templates and using inheritance features in Tecnomatix Plant Simulation can create a system that’s reliable, maintainable, and scalable across teams.

When your simulation projects are ready to go—but your data systems aren’t—Excel can be a powerful ally. In this session, we’ll explore how pre-templated Excel tables can help you move forward with confidence, even in the absence of fully connected databases.

In the lecture “Excel as a Bridge” we’ll walk through how simple, structured Excel files can replace complex data pipelines, helping you load, manage, and update simulation data with ease. This method reduces manual effort, minimizes the risk of errors, and accelerates project setup.

Flexibility is at the heart of this approach. You can scale models using one or many Excel files, adapt quickly to new scenarios, and empower team members to modify inputs—no deep simulation knowledge required.

The templates are designed for clarity and repeatability. Inherited formats and naming conventions ensure that every model draws from a consistent source, which means more reliable results and easier collaboration across teams.

You’ll also see real-life examples from the automotive industry, where this technique has supported fast iteration, better planning, and more efficient production decisions.

👥 Who Should Attend?

This session is perfect for simulation professionals, operations analysts, and engineers in any sector—especially those working without fully integrated data systems. Whether you’re new to Plant Simulation or managing complex workflows, this lecture will give you tools you can use right away.

📍 See You in Amsterdam!

Join us on July 2^nd, 2025 at the Plant Simulation User Conference—part of Realize LIVE Europe—to see how Excel can simplify your simulation journey and empower your team.

👉 Register today and explore the full event agenda:
Visit Event Page