Rockwell Automation and Dassault Systèmes, a world leader in 3D and product life cycle management (PLM) solutions, will develop a joint solution to make the virtual design and production environment a reality.
The virtual design and production environment links product design to manufacturing and will serve manufacturers, such as those in the automotive industry — addressing the needs of brand owners, tiered suppliers and machine builders.
The solution will help enable collaborative mechanical and control design with bidirectional synchronisation. As a result, immediate feedback will be available on design changes, thus enabling the testing of various “what if” scenarios in order to continuously optimise manufacturing operations. Customers will benefit, because manufacturing operations will be commissioned faster with optimal production performance.
“Manufacturers are anxiously awaiting a solution that can turn the idea of a virtual design and production environment into reality,” said Kevin Roach, vice president of Software, Rockwell Automation. “We see this relationship as a way to make our customers’ visions come true in the very near term by capitalizing on the strengths of both the Rockwell Automation Integrated Architecture™ and Dassault Systèmes’ PLM solutions.”
“This relationship is a natural fit for both Dassault Systèmes and Rockwell Automation,” said Philippe Charles, CEO, Dassault Systèmes Delmia Corp. “The years of development that we have put into our DELMIA Automation solution and that Rockwell Automation has put into its Integrated Architecture make it possible for our two companies to integrate these technologies and provide a joint solution to customers in the very near future.”
The joint solution will link manufacturing design to factory-floor control by integrating Rockwell Software RSLogix 5000 control programming and configuration software with DELMIA Automation PLM software from Dassault Systèmes. As a result, manufacturers can expect to reduce the cost of engineering and ramp-up time, and continually optimise their manufacturing operations with an accurate, real-time, simulation model.
“We are one step closer to realizing the dream of a virtual design and production environment with the relationship between Rockwell Automation and Dassault Systèmes,” said Jim Caie, vice president consulting, ARC Advisory Group. “Virtual commissioning is a key capability in helping manufacturers go to market with speed, confidence and efficiency.”
“The recent announcement from Dassault Systèmes and Rockwell Automation positions Rockwell Automation squarely in the digital manufacturing technology space and extends Dassault Systèmes’ reach into manufacturing operations,” said Dick Slansky, senior analyst, PLM & Discrete Manufacturing, ARC Advisory Group. “The integration of these solutions will provide manufacturers with the capability to virtually design their production systems in 3D, and design and validate control logic prior to physical implementation and commissioning. This will reduce the time it takes to launch manufacturing systems, as well as its associated costs.”