When AI turns images into 3D models – opportunity or risk for factory planners? KI tools, like Meshy, generate impressive 3D models from simple images in just a few minutes. Sounds like a revolution in factory planning - and it is, at least to some extent. The article explains how Meshy works, where its strengths…

How equipment suppliers and machine manufacturers support customers ideally Learn how equipment suppliers, machine manufacturers, and plant producers can accelerate factory planning and increase product visibility with the supplier program and optimized 3D CAD product data. How equipment suppliers and machine manufacturers can optimize the factory planning of their customers:Many factory operators regard the Digital…

A modern industrial layout is no longer defined solely by machines and production lines. It is shaped by a wide range of technical installations operating behind the scenes to ensure smooth processes – including custom-designed steel structures. Whether as supports for conveyor systems, overhead bridges for utility lines, or access platforms for maintenance, these steel…

How do I permanently manage my 3D factory model correctly with 3D-Reporting? visTABLE® enables you to build 3D layouts in the shortest possible time, using the included model library as well as imported CAD data. The latter, however, can quickly and unnecessarily bloat the factory layout, because the amount of data is often a hundred…

simplifying the planning of traffic spaces The following questions arise at some point during almost every factory planning project. But they are often left unanswered until it is much too late, and even then, many of the answers are based on “gut feeling” alone – with expensive consequences: unnecessary replanning, maneuvering problems or even safety…

And: What has sustainability reporting got to do with layout optimization in factory planning? In a time where sustainability and climate change mitigation are getting more and more important, companies are faced with new regulatory challenges. The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) and Energy Efficiency Act (EnEFG) require companies to…

This update focuses on continuous improvement. The news at a glance System requirements Management for license administrators visTABLE® visTABLE®logix visTABLE®ObjectManager Virtual Reality Model library

Relocation to 143,000 m² of new factory space while at the same time implementing an optimum product flow MainChange is probably one of the most significant innovation projects ever undertaken by SAMSON AG. The first thoughts were already brought to paper in 2021 and served as the basis for a feasibility study. The trigger was…

Material flow management is all about ensuring the smooth movement of resources through a system, from raw materials to finished products. Imagine a well-coordinated orchestra, where every instrument plays in harmony to create beautiful music. That's what efficient material flow management does for a business. It minimizes waste, reduces costs, and boosts productivity. In our…

How is optimization potential validated in daily operations? SFS Group Germany GmbH in Olpe, a small town not far from Cologne, manufactures tailored fastening solutions under the umbrella of the Swiss SFS Group. With turnover totaling CHF 3,090.8 million in 2023 and a workforce of 13,200 employees (FTE), the SFS Group is one of the…

Part 3: The standardized modular factory in practice taking the example of an automotive supplier In the first two parts of our series, we initially illuminated the requirements of factory planning in times of change and the theoretical concept of the standardized modular factory. Now we will discuss the possibilities of practical implementation taking the…

Part 2: The standardized modular factory: An innovative concept for modern factory planning In the first part of our article series, we discussed the importance of adaptability and its requirements for factory planning. The second part of our blog series will illuminate the concept of standardized modular factory. What does it look like in theory…

Part 1: Significance of adaptability and the challenges involved The adaptability of a factory is a potential key to success. Our aim here is thus to illuminate strategies, technologies and challenges associated with flexible and future-proof production environments. This blog series shows you how companies can secure competitive advantages through adaptability and flexible factory planning.…

Brief portrait DEHN SEDEHN is a leading, family-owned electrical engineering company and serves the global market from its headquarters in Neumarkt, Germany. Its comprehensive portfolio addresses the megatrends of our time – from e-mobility and renewable energies to the protection of critical infrastructure. DEHN offers wide-ranging solutions and services relating to lightning and surge protection…

This update focuses on bug fixes and consolidation. The news at a glance Requirements visTABLE® visTABLE®logix visTABLE®ObjectManager 3D Model library

What does a possible workflow look like with the HoloLens? This article is in continuation of the previous article describing a potential workflow of the interactions between the factory planning software and HoloLens. Note: The following videos on possible use cases were recorded directly by way of HoloLens with its integrated video recording function. Due…

What does visual management mean for Fendt as a manufacturer of agricultural machinery in practice and which decisive benefits does the company have from the use of visTABLE® in conjunction with virtual reality (VR)? The Hohenmölsen location (Saxony-Anhalt) with its more than 450 employees produces parts and components for Fendt tractors, round balers, harvesters and…

Motivation Researches and inquiries carried out today with the objective to use a variety of smart glasses with visTABLE® will be reason to go into details of this topic. And it should be added that HoloLens smart glasses (version 2) currently celebrate their 5th birthday. Congratulations! This is the first of two articles. The following…

In addition to extended import options, we present the following new features that enable you to plan impressively. The news at a glance Previously, data export and third-party software were required to experience and communicate layouts in Virtual Reality. With this update, it is now possible to create this experience with significantly fewer hurdles. Configurable…

Securing company-wide acceptance for the 2025 factory expansion The practical planning details all need to be correct, of course. But internal communication and acceptance of the planning concept is no less important for the planning team at SILOKING. The biggest factory expansion to date is to be realized between now and 2025, and that promises…

Maschinenfabrik Bernard KRONE GmbH & Co. KG acts under the roof of the KRONE Group. KRONE produces innovative and powerful forage machines at its location Spelle (Germany). The product portfolio comprises disc mowers, rotary tedders, rotary rakes, forage wagons, large square balers, round balers, pellet harvesters, and the two self-propelled mowers BiG M (high-performance mower…

This article shows the use of 3D models of STOPA long goods storage or cassette storage in the visTABLE® software. STOPA Anlagenbau GmbH is one of the leading manufacturers of space-saving, ultra-modern and automated storage solutions with a system. Long goods storage, as the name suggests, accommodates long material, usually in the form of bars,…

In addition to increased robustness in the event of changes to the Windows display, we are introducing the following innovations that will enable you to plan faster. The news at a glance Previously, 2D labels could not be moved or rotated. The creation and configuration of 3D labels was also time-consuming. With this update, it…

3D models in factory layouts often come from a wide variety of sources. These include CAD data from the supplier, such as 3D STEP or 2D DXF and DWG. But 3D models from the visTABLE® model library also supplement a layout. This heterogeneous mix is normal in practice and makes it possible to achieve the…

This article shows how you can use Google Maps as a visual 3D reference in a visTABLE® factory layout. Normally you can only save 2D images from Google Maps with the snipping tool or use the image export function in Google Earth. However, there is another way to create a 3D model. In principle, this would…

From planning to production in less than a year Demand for the ready-to-cook meal kits sold by HelloFresh is as strong as it has ever been. Even after the pandemic, the success story of the Berlin-based company continues. After placing an online order, customers receive a selection of fresh ingredients delivered directly to their door,…

In this blog, we'll take you through the five basic principles of production layout planning that you should know to streamline your manufacturing process and increase efficiency.

In the industrial manufacturing engineering process we too often experience pigeonhole thinking. If a new component is to be manufactured, the following engineering procedure starts: Sounds normal to you? To me, it sounds like wasted potential in engineering. Because in step 3, there is a breaking point in the development process. For example, steps 1…

In addition to changes for robustness, increasing compatibility with data import formats, and increases in performance and speed, we are introducing the following new features that will allow you to plan more efficiently. The news at a glance Until now, objects could only be rotated around the z-axis. However, this one axis is not sufficient…

Designing a factory layout can be a challenging and time-consuming task. It requires a thorough understanding of the manufacturing processes and a keen eye for spatial planning. In the past, factory planners would use traditional hand-drawn methods to create factory layouts. It took weeks or even months to complete. However, with the advent of plant…

Introduction Facility layouts play a significant role in the productivity, efficiency, and overall success of any business. A well-designed facility layout can optimize space utilization, reduce material handling costs, and enhance the workflow in manufacturing and operation. In this article, we will discuss the types of facility layouts, design considerations, and the benefits of strategic…

The Hinterschwepfinger service portfolio is rather unique: the company develops production site concepts for SMEs and then takes care of general planning and turnkey construction of the relevant buildings or even entire locations – as a one-stop partner. Hinterschwepfinger is a pioneer in the field of digitalization and is thus able to promise absolutely faithful…

Flow charts and various process flow diagrams (PFD) fill countless pages in quality management manuals. All too often, they are smiled at as management wallpaper, and almost everyone knows that things work differently in practice anyway than they are theoretically painted on the brown paper in the production manager's office. But where does the desire…

Maximize Efficiency and Productivity When it comes to planning a new plant or factory layout, there are many things to consider creating an efficient and effective design. The type of manufacturing process, the machinery and equipment required, the flow of production, and the overall operation of the plant all need to be taken into account.…

Anyone who is responsible for production, logistics, or IE in their organization may already have experienced that end-to-end layout planning in 3D still seems problematic despite the companies' extensive digitization activities. Indeed, these and comparable technical aspects must be taken into account. Nevertheless, they could distract from organizational necessities. After all, functioning systems consist not…

Systematic Layout Planning, also known as SLP, is a method used to organize and optimize the layout of a manufacturing facility. The goal of SLP is to improve the efficiency and productivity of the facility by reducing waste, increasing flow, and minimizing the distance that materials and products need to travel. SLP is a structured…

With best wishes for the new year, we would also like to introduce the new visTABLE® update with many improved features and new models in the model library. The news at a glance Functions 3D Model library

Summary blog article 2022 Dear customers and readers, The year is coming to an end and our world is currently undergoing a major transformation. We inevitably adapt and look to the future with optimism. Every factory also transforms more or less over time. Breathability and flexibility characterize competitive corporate structures. If you have missed some…

Prudent planning and realization of cranes and overhead conveyor systems Cranes and overhead conveyor systems are widely spread throughout the industry. But which advantages and disadvantages do they have compared to other conveyor systems? Which types exist? How can such systems be planned? All these questions will be answered in this article. Applications of cranes…

To persevere in the endless fight for supremacy, it is not enough for companies to always stay on the same level, no matter how high that level might be. Only contenders who never stop improving can manage to not only hold themselves above water but even climb to the top of the economy’s hierarchy. Unfortunately,…

With shop floor planning and control, one certainly has a multi-faceted area of expertise that offers many exciting tasks. As soon as manufacturing has started, the planner considers his job done. For the operation, however, this is only the starting point. There is a constant need for regulations and improvements regarding the supervision and optimization…

Cost and energy efficiency plus process reliability: these are the requirements for intralogistics. Industry 4.0, smart warehousing and an ever-increasing demand for individuality require a comprehensive concept. Effective logistics form the economic basis within your entire process chain. The two decisive success factors are the alignment of processes with your customers and the efficient fulfillment…

Have you ever been in this situation – you come from industry or especially from mechanical engineering and new machinery or new equipment is to be installed in your manufacturing facility? Is the existing assembly line to be adapted due to a product change?  The construction of a new factory is scheduled. Maybe even at…

The manufacturing sector is undergoing a period of profound change characterized by dramatic, technology-driven productivity gains. In this article, we examine the practical ways in which companies today are using new technologies to increase productivity and gain competitive advantage for their production lines. At the very least, recent years have shown how important productivity and…

Regarding material handling in the industry, thoughts quickly turn to logistical equipment and the associated optimization issues. But hasn't the proverbial baby already fallen into the well when aspects of logistical solutions come into focus? After all, logistical requirements are preceded by their causes. Those who know them and work on them consistently will also…

Of course, the questioning title of this blog is rhetorical. Because in recent decades, both the way plant floor plans are created and their potential benefits have changed considerably. The reason for this - you guessed it - is the developments in IT and digitization. The impact of digitization on plant floor plans If we…

The ability to align strategic decisions with a long-term philosophy If you are looking for the best strategy for a company, you quickly end up with Toyota's policy. The "Toyota Way" has not only become a bestseller, but also a buzzword for strategic decision-making - a role model, and not just for large companies. Read…

Let us briefly outline how your company can also benefit from digital transformation and whats this Digital Factory is all about. Currently many manufacturers still lag behind others with digitizing their companies. While the remaining aspects of product development are already handled digitally, the companies failed to perform a digital transformation in respect of the…

Future workplace amenities on the example of changing rooms Changing rooms, also known as locker rooms are an integral part of almost every factory. They belong to sanitary rooms in connection with toilets and washrooms and serve the following purposes: Accessibility and spaces separated by gender play an important role in the design. Sufficient space…

Increasing productivity in supply chain management is one of the main objectives in many businesses. While managing the current plan, there can be effective strategies for lead time reduction. Reducing time to market, reducing cost, and creating better customer experiences are just a few ways an effective supply chain can add value. What is Lead…

The new visTABLE® update focuses mainly on the topic of a realistic visualisation in the 3D view. This is about the coloring of objects in 3D as well as new model catalogues. The news at a glance Functions 3D Model library

Sankey diagram basics H. Riall Sankey gave his name to the Sankey diagram. The Sankey is a specific type of flow diagram, in which the width of the arrows is displayed proportionally to the flow quantity. These diagrams are typically used to visualize factors such as energy transfer, material flow, or monetary transitions within a…

How to use the model catalog “Annotation” in visTABLE®? Quite often, factory planning needs more than just the pure 3D model of a machine and the building. Symbols and texts help to communicate complex relationships in layout planning more quickly to those involved. They thus actively support visual 3d communication in the factory layout. What…

AGVs (automated guided vehicles) are also on everyone's lips when it comes to forward-looking logistics concepts. Driverless is often seen as the next, higher goal after forkliftless. In lean management, however, tugger trains are the means of choice. Are AGVs now making tugger trains obsolete? In terms of transport history, the development in the 20th…

Let’s take a closer look at what BIM actually is. Where are the advantages and why BIM will not be suited to substitute factory planning? When using BIM software, it is always decisive for success to create the appropriate understanding amongst those involved. And this not only for the building project itself. It is therefore…

Efficient logistics pay off in many branches Your logistics arrangements may function satisfactorily, but are they also competitive? You may think that logistics planning is only something for global enterprises, but is there not also untapped potential waiting to be utilized in smaller companies? We would like to show you what logistics planning entails and…

The subject of warehouse planning is a very broad one. Warehousing plays a crucial role in streamlining a company's supply chain.  When planning is done, individual requirements should always be taken into account in the search for an efficient warehouse layout design. Especially in the current times of pandemic, political conflicts and supply bottlenecks, with…

Assembly lines within one-piece-flow (OPF work systems) are very popular in assembly planning. Great advantages are associated with this in lean production. In this context, particular mention should be made of the following: Short lead times,low inventories,good possibilities of automation also with the use of (collaborating) robots,continuous production and last but not leastgood planning of…

When one stops all, a question of capacity You certainly know the following situation: Although your production permanently works with extra hours and extra effort, the delivery times of your enterprise are often not observed. The reason can be bottlenecks in your production system. But what are bottlenecks, and why do they lead to such…

Time does not stand still and we have also used this to equip visTABLE® with new useful functions. The focus this time was particularly on improved data exchange. In addition, important user requirements were again implemented in this update. The news at a glance Data exchange Functions Model library

Very many, if not most, planning projects in industry involve restructuring the manufacturing site: So space for manufacturing is needed somewhere, and often there is even space available somewhere else in the facility. If the new asset fits where the old equipment is moving, replacing it quickly appears to be the most practical and cost-effective…

Summary blog article 2nd half 2021 Dear customers and readers, Christmas is just around the corner and at the same time the pandemic has us firmly in its grip again and is once again making for tense winter months. Looking ahead to the coming spring, which always represents a new beginning, we hope for social…

Lean production methods and lean management traditionally focus on continuous improvement (KAIZEN). Many lean methods therefore logically focus on discovering waste in existing processes. In this way, they trigger the continuous improvement process in the company. In factory planning, on the other hand, completely new productions are created on the drawing board. Innovative processes are…

This article is about some practical tips for planning social spaces. What German guidelines are there and how can they be practically implemented in layout planning? What is the significance of social spaces in the company? The term "social" comes from Latin and means "common", "connected". It expresses a sense of belonging to a human…

In contrast to our illustration, which may seem sarcastic in view of climate change, production cells refer to a type of manufacturing in which different machines or workplaces are usually grouped together locally. This allows similar work on several different products to be concentrated in one area, ideally producing functionally self-contained outputs (intermediate products, assemblies).…

Material flows influence the productivity of your company. The procedures followed when planning on a greenfield site are not only applicable for new locations. Learn how your company, too, can use material flow analysis to optimize the organization of its internal material flows along the supply chain. Anyone who spends just a few minutes simply…

There is a good chance that spreadsheet tools are among the most widely used tools in your company. What could be more logical, therefore, than to use such tools to optimize the layout of the assembly center, the warehouse, a production hall or even the whole company site? After all, there is a template for…

Floor markings – can there possibly be anyone who has not encountered them at some time? They are to be found everywhere in our daily lives. Especially in these times of pandemic, floor markings await us in practically every supermarket and public building. They are intended to help us observe the recommended social distancing, and…

How to solve problems with visual images The power of images can be harnessed to explain complex situations more simply and to solve problems more quickly. We would like to show you how you can use the possibilities of 3D visualization in your company. And you may be glad to hear that artistic talent is…

How to find the optimal key user for your project The introduction of new software in companies is not a foregone conclusion. In addition to the technical side, employees must also always be brought along on the path to go-live. This is where the key user comes into play. We show you how he can…

We see that companies with job shop production are also increasingly moving to line production. Is job shop production outdated or is this just the influence from the automotive sector and the lean production philosophy pronounced there?Can companies without line production still exist in the market at all? I would like to give answers to…

Cardboard Engineering is a lean management method for designing workplaces on a 1:1 scale using cardboard or wooden models. This is carried out as a workshop involving the people who (will) work at the workplaces. Therefore, the Cardboard Engineering solutions are well accepted. In addition, production and processes benefit from the ideas and experience of…

Most companies, at some point, are faced with the task of expanding or relocation of their plant. Perhaps warehouses or logistics have outgrown their existing space and simply need to move to a new location with more space. Perhaps a site analysis has revealed a need to be closer to key customers or a distribution…

Larger investments are an extraordinary burden on the budget and should pay off over several years. Minimizing the investment sum is therefore one of the TOP 5 targets for most people. It is not uncommon for savings to be made where the benefits are not really apparent - in the planning costs. But are investments…

Which one software for the different departments in concept planning? For visualizing and validating initial ideas through to rough and detailed concepts, including a comparison of variants, without having to accept frictional losses in interdisciplinary understanding, data handling, and timing? Based on these questions, Jungheinrich embarked on a complex selection process and tested a number…

How does teamwork in shopfloor layout planning work? In most companies, shopfloor layouts are created on the computer. This means that one member of the team operates the computer, and the others often only get to work when there are enough variants to choose from. Active interaction with the planning model is thus limited to…

The material flow matrix (also: transport, flow, or intensity matrix) is one of the best known and not least simple formal models for the representation of logistical processes in manufacturing companies. The following is recorded in it: Sources and sinks for material flow: In logistics, this refers to the locations (resources) from which material is…

Learn how to make the digitization of your production a success. In addition to recommendations from the field, you will find a checklist that you can use to get started right away.

Part 1: Why many companies struggle with digital transformation Companies in all branches, and especially in the industrial sector, face the same challenge: Existing production processes need to be transitioned into the digital age. Many, however, overlook the opportunities and fail to harness all available know-how for their company. Digitalization of production affects everyone in…

If a new production layout is to be planned, the question of space requirements always arises. In factory planning, the resulting task is called floorspace dimensioning. It is assigned to the planning step Dimensioning. In the course of a factory planning project, dimensioning is a prerequisite for layout planning. This is because only objects that…

Only CAD and pushing boxes were yesterday The Institute for Integrated Production Hannover (IPH) advises customers in restructuring as well as in new factory planning and uses visTABLE®. We became aware of an interesting german podcast moderated by Jens Kruse with project engineer Andreas Nitsche on the topic of factory planning on Twitter. In this,…

We show you how to present correctly Stuffed PowerPoint, Prezi or Google slides, overwhelmed listeners and presentations where hardly anyone can tell what it was all about afterwards. Unfortunately, this is the daily routine in many meeting rooms. We provide you with presentation techniques that will help you present your work properly and inspire your…

In philosophy and technology, ideal stands for a model of perfection. The eponym is the idea (lat. idea), the thought of the perfect. At the same time, the ideal hoovers in the space of the unattainable, and it is therefore often classified by pragmatists as an ambitious goal, which gradually erodes in practice. The theory…

Summary blog article 1st half 2021 Dear customers and readers, this half of the year was marked by a kind of the new beginning of our social life and this time we are leaving for the summer with a slightly better feeling. In case you missed some of our articles or are simply looking for…

Close to the Digital Twin and yet past it - heavyweight 3D CAD data Are you also sometimes annoyed in the project, if you have to load again a too complex 3D model as STEP, DWG, or OBJ into your layout? You already know that 500 MByte will not make your factory layout leaner. But…

Rough layout and fine layout are terms often heard in factory layout planning. Usually, they are also used intuitively. Almost everyone has an idea of what they mean. The rough stands for rather imprecise or conceptual, while the fine is rather associated with sophistication, accuracy, and high detailing. And this is where the intuitive basic…

The "War for Talents" has accompanied industry for many years. Small and medium-sized companies, in particular, are now struggling to recruit talent. The Corona pandemic only eased the situation briefly. The problem remains. Qualified personnel is lacking in many places. Although or precisely because they are of fundamental importance to the industry. They ensure a…

You are convinced of VR or have at least experienced the advantages of virtual reality in some form. Now do you want to know specifically what the practical application looks like? In the last article about VR, the application in factory planning was briefly discussed. This article will now go into the use of visTABLE®VR…

The block layout is the linchpin in layout planning for production sites. This is all the more true when it comes to improving the factory structure. This is because the rough representation of the functional areas of a factory and facilities in blocks provides essential information on the optimal arrangement of the operating resources and…

When looking for 3D modeling of a 3D floor plan for a current project, you have already noticed that there are at least a handful of possibilities? This article will directly compare 5 different methods from a practical factory planning perspective. As you will see, all roads can lead to the goal. You will find…

Have you ever read about or tried how 3D models can be automatically generated from photos? Photos have become a mass commodity through smartphones, created in all kinds of life situations. Couldn't you then very easily capture equipment in a factory in 3D in this way? And what is the difference between photogrammetry and photo…

Modern factory planning is no longer imaginable without three-dimensional layout planning. But why? Is it just a trend or does it make sense? In this blog, we want to shed light on two questions in this regard: Advantages of three-dimensional planning The advantages of 3D planning can be quickly summarized. When something new is to…

You are currently planning a factory in 3D and you are still missing a suitable 3D CAD model? There are numerous providers on the Internet with a wide variety of content. Sometimes you can even find free downloadable 3D CAD models. But what about the usability in layout planning with regard to the following selection…

In the last article on laser scanning, it was more focused on the state of the art and the result of a laser scan. The conclusion was that the actual recording of point clouds is already affordable even for smaller companies. However, the result of this process has only a small added value in the…

Smart Factory becomes reality While browsing the web, we recently came across the following interview, which discusses the use of visTABLE® in consulting for digital factory structure planning. The video statement of the Concept AG shows that the so-called Smart Factory is no longer a distant vision for many companies with suitable software and professional…

The term 'digital twin' is more often and often to be found in the ocean of terms and anglicisms in the field of planning and operation of factories. But which meaning has this term and which effects has this topic on your own enterprise? And what does it have to do with the benefits of…

We'd like to lighten up Easter 2021 with a not-so-serious blog title during these special times. The digital factory makes it possible. There, virtual Easter nests were discovered in pallet shelfs after the holidays. Reason and opportunity for us to present a very simple construction kit for virtual pallet shelves. Of course we show the…

In this article, I would like to take up the often-advertised issue 'digitization by laser scanning' for inventory survey of equipment and buildings and put it into the context of enterprise size and use cases in factory planning. This article is intended as the beginning of an article series about digitization in factory planning which…

The coronavirus pandemic has made it painfully clear how a society can be forced to adapt to a new situation with virtually no advance warning. It also stands for the many other crises which could emerge in the future and affect not just the economy. Future generations of company staff, in other words those who…

Many readers have perhaps already been in a similar situation: Conversion of the ERP system is still in progress. An important customer has just called with complaints about the recently completed order. And now it has been decided to switch to driverless transport because the visiting representative gave a very convincing presentation. How can your…

Every release is a big moment, and we've spent months refining the new features so you can create great factory models. But we couldn't have done it without all of the users who gave us valuable feedback during the beta phase. Thank you, your participation is essential! The news at a glance Functions Lead time…

This article is a continuation of our previous discussion on “How to convince your management to use factory planning software”. Last time, we concentrated on responses to possible questioning of your software selection by management. Are you still short of arguments to justify the expenditure? If so, we would like to offer you a few…

Introduction Do you know this from your private life? When it comes to larger expenditures, let's take a fully automatic coffee machine as an example, there is usually no impulse purchase. Firstly, by buying this new, expensive item, you are more or less depriving yourself and others of financial flexibility. Second, this purchase may also…

Do you know the following dilemma from practice? You want to plan your factory and are already using a wide variety of software in the company. Among them is CAD software. However, only your colleague, as the “sacred guardian” of the factory layout, really knows how to use it. You have to coordinate with him,…

One concept that always comes up in factory or production planning is lead time. Especially in the context of operating cost calculations and process optimization along the value chain, lead times play a decisive role. But what exactly do we mean by lead time, and how significant is it really in the planning process? Definitions…

You know this situation? The production area is running out of space; an extension has already been under discussion. Now the order situation is very good and the management asked you to elaborate a concept as quickly as possible. Preliminary considerations make already clear that the new factory hall is to be performed in system…

What is the benefit of having our whole factory layout in 3D? No-one will ask that question in such simple terms. But there are indeed many simple questions which float around in the mind; especially if you are responsible for the assessment of investments in digital factory planning. But is the question perhaps already obsolete?…

When it comes to material flow analyses, many people immediately think of Sankey charts or factory layouts with material flow arrows. Such kinds of representations give a good overview as to where and in which intensity the material flows. However, often the question arises where it is most effectively to start optimizing the material flows.…

There it is again in the download folder, a 500MB zipped archive of a 3D CAD model. CAD stands for Computer-Aided Design. The supplier was kind enough to send me the CAD data of our newly purchased machine with all the assemblies and components in it. Not by email, of course, but via a download…

You are probably familiar with this situation: You have invested many hours in your project presentation slides. Your idea for a solution is mature. Now you are sitting in a deadlocked meeting and after endless discussion the decision is postponed. As is often the case, how well a proposed solution is received by your audience…

Sorted list of published blog articles Dear customers and readers, A turbulent year in many respects is drawing to a close. We close our blog for 2020 with this collective post and will be back with fresh articles for you from 11.01.2021. Until then, stay healthy! We wish you a Merry Christmas and a great…

In the fall semester 2019/20, several groups of master students of the Engineering and Management Department (09) of the Munich University of Applied Sciences were faced with the task to plan new assembly lines and factory sections, with weighing up different alternatives for action. Part of the task set by teacher Prof. Dr. Spitznagel was…

In our last article we presented the basic procedure for a utility value analysis to evaluate layout variants. Here we will now look at the practical implementation of this method with the help of a Excel template. To apply and calculate the utility value analysis, you either create your own spreadsheet or download an existing…

Facing the new challenge with factory planning methods The COVID-19 pandemic comes hard and unexpected for all enterprises, as it is hard for many of them to adapt their production. But such problems can be mastered with the methods of factory planning, also when looking into the future. After the crisis is before the crisis.…

Factory design from value stream to layout. Sounds logical and is logical. Central idea is the so-called line back principle. It comprises designing the factory layout inside-out. Or put another way: The factory planning is to be developed starting from the center of value creation towards auxiliary facilities. What is the problem? If this concept…

Continuous Production Planning in the Factory Model with visTABLE® In Schiltach, level sensors for the process industry are produced, used in storage tanks or silos, among other things. The production for these devices takes place on an increasingly smaller free space at the site. With the constant increase in production capacity, VEGA Grieshaber recently decided…

The process of layout planning often produces several variants. This is mainly due to the fact that several, sometimes opposite target criteria must be taken into account. Another aggravating fact is that the decision-makers assume different perspectives when evaluating the layout variants which, in turn, aggravate an objective evaluation. This is often the beginning of…

Each of us has had some form of contact with 3D models. Well-known applications for this are, for example, architectural planning of a house, an AR app as an advertisement for a toy, or the virtual product at a colleague in the CAD department. There is no doubt that it is planned and presented with…

The term "simulation" is on many people's lips - but what does it actually mean for practical use in industrial companies? How can a planner follow the "First Time Right" approach without getting lost in over-engineering? How is the visTABLE® planning software to be classified? You can find a summary as a table at the…

Do you know this? You have actually prepared everything well for the meeting. Nevertheless, the mood in the circle of colleagues drops just a few minutes after the start. The presentation turns into a nerve-racking discussion and their presented planning solution is literally taken apart. Therefore, this article is intended to highlight the causes and…

Someone who is planning a journey will probably turn to a route planner to determine the shortest and fastest route. This is generally done with the intention of saving time, and thus costs. The start and end points of a journey are essentially fixed, and there is thus little scope for variability in this respect.…

VR has arrived on the market! In the following article we will show you why virtual reality can be used in practice. VR had developed so much from 2016 to 2020 that a trend had now become a boom. The number of pixels per eye has at least quadrupled in 8 years. Glasses are now…

„The material flow, volume flows, transport costs were previously calculated in a very time-consuming way with spreadsheets and were hardly visualized. Arguments in favor of a particular placement of equipment in the factory were often difficult to communicate. We therefore looked for better software solutions.“ explains Felix Riedel

Any manager would no doubt agree that optimized space utilization in production and logistics areas is a key goal of factory planning. After all, space is a limited resource. Where optimization is on the agenda, value-adding and waste are shifted into the focus of attention. But how can these factors be measured and evaluated in…

Spaghetti diagrams have proven themselves under the aspect of "Lean Production"; the approach opens up optimization approaches very quickly, even in the digital world.

Mit visTABLE® 3.0 heben Sie Ihre digitale Fabrik auf die nächste Stufe. Das Arbeiten geht damit viel schneller und macht mehr Spaß denn je.

With the new release of visTABLE®touch 3.0 the model library has again been extended in the following areas: Measuring point for multiple purposes (Catalog: Annotation) - This has now been added to the standard library in response to multiple customer requests. The measuring point serves among other things as an auxiliary object for dimensioning as…

„visTABLE®touch ist in Sachen Bedienung unschlagbar! Die Software ist einfach und intuitiv zu bedienen. Kunden schätzen die verständliche Visualisierung der erarbeiteten Fabrikkonzepte. Die Software folgt unserer gelebten Praxis.“ meint Michael Feldmeth (Project Manager bei der Staufen AG)

Optimally positioned internationally As an automotive supplier with the mission statement "Experience mobility – develop the future.", ElringKlinger has become a trusted partner to its customers – with a firm commitment to shaping the future of mobility. Be it optimized combustion engines, high-performance hybrids, or environmentally-friendly battery and fuel cell technology, ElringKlinger provides innovative solutions…

The Weidmüller Group offers products, solutions and services in the industrial environment of power, signals and data. There are production facilities, sales companies and representa-tives in more than 80 countries.In fiscal year 2014, Weidmüller generated sales of € 673 million with around 4,800 employees. The planning solution of the hidden champions The standardization of corporate…

d&b audiotechnik is one of the leading companies in the field of professional audio technology. For 35 years, d&b has been developing and producing audio systems at the Backnang site in Swabia. In addition to the proverbial quality, the globally recognized products stand for genuine reproduction of music and speech. d&b has more than 400…

Sorin S.p.A. is a manufacturer of medical technology with production sites in Canada, the USA, Brazil, France, Italy, and Germany. In Munich, heart-lung machines, autotransfusion systems, and hypothermia devices are developed and manufactured at Sorin Group Deutschland GmbH. Due to increasing quantities, new products, and an expanding vertical range of manufacture, a fundamental reorganization of…

The Institute of Maritime Logistics at the Hamburg University of Technology (Technische Universität Hamburg-Harburg) conducts research under the direction of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Carlos Jahn in the logistics planning of seaports, waterways, and terminals. In addition, the research roadmap includes end-to-end process design from ship to hinterland connection, as well as the preparation of maritime forecasts…

During the construction of the new factory in Silao de la Victoria in the state of Guanajuato, the Scherdel Group, driven by high perfectionism, decided to use the 3D factory planning software visTABLE®. Suggestions and proposals from the employees already working at the previous company headquarters in Leon were to be incorporated into the considerations…

Endress+Hauser Maulburg develops and manufactures level and pressure measuring instruments and is responsible for the Inventory Management Solutions business area. The sites in Stahnsdorf (near Berlin) and Kassel develop and produce components. To be close to customers worldwide, affiliated sites such as Greenwood (USA), Aurangabad (India), Suzhou (China), Yamanashi (Japan) and Itatiba (Brazil) are responsible…

RAFI Dekotec GmbH in Radolfzell is a company in the RAFI Group that draws on more than four decades of experience in the fields of mold making, precision injection molding, surface, and component assembly. The focus is on the production of decorative assemblies for the automotive industry. Due to growth in continuous planning in response…

For more than 50 years, HÖRMANN Rawema GmbH has been planning and constructing complex production systems in Germany and abroad as an engineering service provider. In many projects, the company acts as a general contractor to support customers in the implementation of their projects, from planning to realization and operation. The introduction of the visTABLE®touch…

The Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering successfully uses visTABLE® products from plavis GmbH for team-based 3D factory planning to be able to plan value-added assembly processes as quickly as possible. To simplify production and logistics processes, the know-how of employees from assembly, logistics, and production planning/control is required. For this reason, a project team –…

Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG is a global market leader in the field of electrical connection, electronic interface, and industrial automation technology. In addition to various locations in Germany, the Phoenix Contact Group also includes international production facilities in the USA, China, Poland, Greece, India, and Brazil. A high vertical range of manufacture of…