VW Optimizes Ergonomic Integrity with Dassault Systèmes DELMIA V5 Human

04/12/2007

Visualization Tool Helps Ensure Manufacturing Efficiency

Auburn Hills, Michigan, December 4, 2007   Dassault Systèmes (DS) (Nasdaq: DASTY; Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, announced that its DELMIA Human software is being used by Volkswagen AG to ergonomically design its human assembly line functions. The software’s prototyping capability provides communication between designers, engineers and operators to maximize the efficiency and speed of human motion in a manufacturing situation.

To eliminate the potential for physical injury to line workers, possible work stoppage or vehicle quality issues, Volkswagen thoroughly analyzes all human movement to assure ergonomic integrity and prevent situations which could compromise manufacturing efficiency.  For example, through simulation it can be discovered that it is difficult for an assembly line worker to reach a bolt and tighten it at the required line speed.  The work station layout and process can then be re-configured prior to its implementation on the plant floor.

“DELMIA Human gives me the ability to simulate the work environment on the computer to ensure ergonomic suitability before implementing in real life,” explains Maileen Zander, an ergonomics consultant for Volkswagen’s vehicle projects. “Since the system simulates many standard positions and one can also expand the body posture library, one is spared from having to manually model every new position. DELMIA Human is an essential tool for my work. Without the true-to-life simulation, we would be unable to verify our findings in the early planning phase.” DELMIA Human provides process and resource plan definition. “Zander uses DELMIA Human to create human CAD (Computer-Aided Design) models, called manikins, which can then realistically simulate the complex task procedures at each station.

Of the 65 moveable human body parts, 49 can be highlighted with individual colors. Certain body parts and areas like the spine, chest area, lumbar region or pelvis can be blocked or activated in the simulation. Objects can be added to the manikin, such as a hardhat that automatically moves with every motion. The field of vision also adjusts dynamically to the manikin’s movements.

The manikin not only moves autonomously, it also can walk on reference surfaces. In addition, DELMIA Human contains functions for climbing stairs and ladders, whereby the body automatically moves in synch with the limbs used. The human models can grasp objects within their reach, and the projected effort required for a certain activity when an individual is in a particular body position can be determined. The results achieved by Volkswagen so far are most positive and have made the leap from computer simulation to bona fide implementation; pre-assembly of the doors for the Golf’s successor model was ergonomically optimized.

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Informazioni su About Volkswagen

Volkswagen is the number one producer of passenger cars in Europe, and number four in the world. It manufactures such well-known models as Golf, Passat and the New Beetle at more than 40 facilities worldwide. Initially, ENOVIAVPM will be installed at Volkswagen’s headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany—Europe’s largest automobile manufacturing site. business solutions to implement their digital enterprise, thus creating and simulating the entire product lifecycle from initial concept to product in service. CATIA, DELMIA and ENOVIA solutions support industry-specific business processes to help unleash creativity and innovation, reduce development cycle time, improve quality, competitiveness and shareholder value: CATIA supports the digital product definition and simulation, DELMIA provides solutions to define and simulate lean digital manufacturing processes and ENOVIA delivers enterprise solutions that manage a comprehensive, collaborative and distributed model of the digital product, processes and resources. The combined integration creates the Digital Product lifecycle Pipeline, supporting reuse of corporate knowledge. SolidWorks and Smart Solutions, as Dassault Systemes companies, offer respectively 3D design-centric and TeamPDM software solutions based on Windows.

 

Information about Volkswagen is available at - http://www.volkswagen.de

Informazioni su About DELMIA

DELMIA is a premier brand for digital manufacturing solutions, focused on two unique software applications that can be used to streamline manufacturing processes. DELMIA Automation provides solutions to digitally design test and validate the control of a machine, workcell, or entire factory line and DELMIA PLM provides the process and resource capability to enable continuous creation and validation of manufacturing processes as related to the product throughout the entire product lifecyle.  DELMIA serves industries where the optimization of manufacturing processes is critical, including automotive, aerospace, fabrication and assembly, electrical and electronics, consumer goods, plant, and shipbuilding sectors. Information about DELMIA is available at http://www.delmia.com/

Informazioni su Dassault Systèmes

Come leader mondiale del 3D e delle soluzioni PLM, Dassault Systèmes conta oltre 90.000 clienti in 80 paesi. Pioniere nel mercato dei software in 3D dal 1981, Dassault Systèmes sviluppa e commercializza applicazioni software e servizi che supportano i processi industriali, fornendo una visione 3D di tutto il ciclo di vita del prodotto, dalla fase di progettazione a quella di manutenzione. La gamma di prodotti DS è costituita da CATIA, per il disegno di prodotti virtuali, DELMIA per la produzione virtuale, SIMULIA per le verifiche virtuali ed ENOVIA per la gestione del ciclo di vita collaborativo globale, con ENOVIA VPLM, ENOVIA MatrixOne e ENOVIA SmarTeam. Dassault Systèmes è quotato sul mercato Nasdaq (DASTY) ed Euronext di Parigi (#13065, DSY.PA). Per ulteriori informazioni clicca sul link %20>http://www.3ds.com

CATIA, DELMIA, ENOVIA, SIMULIA e SolidWorks sono marchi registrati di Dassault Systèmes o filiali negli USA e/o altri paesi.