Flexible Industrial Production

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Flexible Industrial Production

09-10-2024 | Posted by Principia

For decades, industrial production has focused on standardization, aiming for economies of scale to reduce manufacturing costs, based on the belief that cost was the primary factor of competitiveness. However, today’s market thrives on constant change. Fast living, planned obsolescence, and evolving consumer trends, among others, demand manufacturers who can quickly adapt to fluctuations in supply and demand.

Industries such as automotive, cosmetics, food, and pharmaceuticals face constant shifts, driven either by market trends or regulatory requirements. According to Deloitte, nearly 3 in 4 consumers are more likely to buy from brands that offer personalized experiences and spend 37% more with those brands. This highlights a departure from traditional mass production towards unique, one-of-a-kind products that reflect individual tastes and preferences.

To survive in such a fast-paced economic environment, which is also plagued by fluctuations in raw material supplies and a clear shortage of industrial labour, production needs to be optimized—and more importantly, it must adapt to market demands. To stay ahead of these changes, industries must meet new demands, and one of the solutions is automating production plants.

What is flexible production?

Flexible production is a digitized system based on the automated handling of materials and tools, equipped with digital measurement and testing devices that require minimal human intervention. It allows manufacturers to serve smaller market segments and increase the ability to produce a wider variety of products, while reducing delivery times and stock requirements.

Unlike traditional production lines, flexible production consists of modular manufacturing cells supported by autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) that move between them.

What are its advantages?

The use of modular production systems allows individual cells to be modified or robots to be reprogrammed in hours or days for new tasks, instead of halting production for months to overhaul the system.

In this context, simulation becomes a vital tool, enabling any changes without compromising quality or productivity. Platforms like 3DEXPERIENCE of Dassault Systèmes allow companies to configure virtually and simulate production lines to test factors like ergonomics, robotics, line loads, speed requirements, and performance before setting up the physical line.

3DEXPERIENCE minimizes the risks associated with making changes in short timeframes, while also:

Optimizes equipment purchasing through better planning of needs
Reduces the risk of delivery delays by virtually testing start-ups
Saves time and costs
Lowers the chances of stock shortages and prevents line stoppages
Increases equipment lifespan by understanding its performance in real-world scenarios
Reduces energy consumption and optimizes material use

Often, companies overlook the cost and time savings that technology can bring. If you’re an OEM or want to learn more about how flexible production can benefit you, contact us, and we’ll provide expert guidance.

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