Supply chains are unstable, the order situation fluctuates. Customer projects often have to be implemented or adapted at short notice. Restructuring within a plant or across locations is also on the rise. As a result, production companies often have to integrate new machines, convert systems and adapt hall layouts accordingly – quickly, efficiently and without errors.
A key bottleneck here is space: inadequately thought-out hall planning risks downtime or unnecessary investment. As an authorized reseller, DUALIS therefore combines the 3D simulation platform Visual Components with a specially developed space balance tool.
Visual Components can be used to virtually map, analyse and optimize production, machine layouts and material flows in factories. This solution is now complemented by the new DUALIS space balance tool, which analyzes productive space usage at the touch of a button. The different types of space – such as assembly, production, storage and administration areas – must be defined manually in advance. The distribution is then clearly displayed in dashboards with pie and bar charts. This allows planners to see at a glance where expansions are worthwhile or where bottlenecks are imminent.
“The space balance tool shows value-adding, non-value-adding and potential open spaces. It thus creates the ideal basis for making quick and informed decisions,” explains Ralf Dohndorf, Vice President Factory Simulation at DUALIS.
Planning across locations with AREAPLAN
For companies with several production sites, the question of space utilization is even more complex: Where is capacity utilization high? Where are there reserves? And how can processes be bundled? The DUALIS software AREAPLAN, which can be used as an add-on to Visual Components or in combination with CAD, MES, APS and ERP systems, facilitates comprehensive space management. It maps space occupancy across different locations – in terms of time, space and across halls.
Occupancy can thus be planned in a coordinated manner, visualized flexibly and adapted at any time. AREAPLAN offers 3D block diagrams, timeline displays and colour-configurable visualizations. Exports to Excel are also possible without any problems.
“The interaction between Visual Components, the area balance tool and AREAPLAN creates an integrated planning platform – from layout planning and material flow simulation to comprehensive area planning,” says Ralf Dohndorf.
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Further links
👉 www.dualis-it.de
Photo: DUALIS
