Simulation in hybrid digital twins for factory layout planning

Paper in proceedings, 2020

As manufacturing companies make changes to their production system, changes to the factory layout usually follow. The layout of a factory considers the positioning of all elements in the production system, and can contribute to the overall efficiency of operations and the work environment. The process of planning factory layouts affects both installation of the changes and operation of the production system, so the effects can be utilized for a long period of time. By combining 3D laser scanning, Virtual Reality, CAD models, and simulation modelling in a hybrid digital twin, this planning process can be noticeably improved yielding benefits in all phases. This is exemplified via a novel longitudinal industrial study using participant observation to gather data. Findings from the study show that the factory layout planning process can be innovated by smart use of modern digital technologies, resulting in better solution and more informed decisions with reduced risk.