CourseWinter Term 2024/25
Digital Factory Simulation & Production Engineering
Master-level university course on Digital Factory Simulation and production engineering with discrete-event modeling and 3D layouts in JaamSim.
PublicationJan 1, 2025
On modeling, discrete-event simulation, and optimization of spine layouts
Today, discrete-event simulation (DES) has proven to be an essential tool for designing complex high-performance and cost-effective manufacturing systems. However, a significant challenge still lies in modeling specialized system layouts such as the spine layout, which is characterized by a central aisle flanked by corridors with workstations and served by an overhead automated material handling system. While the spine layout has demonstrated to be suitable in industries with complex operational requirements, current DES tools still lack dedicated modeling constructs for this type of layout and its characteristic properties, making the modeling process time-consuming and error-prone. To overcome the current situation, we develop a basic formalism that captures essential properties of spine layouts and defines their inherent discrete-event simulation semantics. Furthermore, we elaborate on the layout …
PublicationMay 20, 2024
Learnings from developing a custom virtual assembly environment for mountability issues of cooling cabinets
Various industries use computer simulation for verifying product properties in early phases of development. Traditionally, such properties include the stability of mechanical structures or the efficiency of aircraft turbines. More recently, research also focuses on the mountability of industrial products using virtual assembly. While research on virtual assembly already started in the mid-1990s, the applicability in different industries remains largely unclear today. To advance the state-of-the-art, in this paper we present learnings from developing a virtual assembly environment for cooling cabinets.
PublicationJan 1, 2024
Digital twin and digital thread within the product lifecycle management
This research explores Digital Twins (DT) and Digital Threads (DTH) in Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) for Industry 4.0, resolving data loss and audit complexity. In today's VUCA-defined age, accelerated by rapid digital transformation, the manufacturing sector requires seamless data flow across the product lifecycle. This paper highlights the growing potential of Industry 4.0, addressing practical guidelines for digital twin prototypes and continuous quality audits.
PublicationSep 11, 2023
Quality assurance of digital twins: an experience report in the automotive industry
Digital twins are becoming increasingly important for the efficient and effective development and operation of cyber-physical systems. However, digital twins are only useful if they reflect the real-world system accurately enough, i.e. their quality is high enough. This claim entails the question, of what the term quality in the context of digital twins means and how it can be measured. In this article, the authors presented their experience with the quality assurance of a digital twin for an assembly line in the automotive industry. Authors explained the preliminary definition of digital twin quality, which authors derived from classical quality models for general software systems. Furthermore, authors described quality issues, which they were able to detect in a digital twin of an assembly line in the automotive industry. Finally, authors concluded how to leverage their experience in different contexts and how to generalize the …
Project
SpineML: Factory Layout & Job Shop Optimization
A Python toolkit designed to optimize factory layout planning (FLP) and job shop scheduling (JSS) through advanced layout modeling and simulation.