Scalable Simulation Solution Optimizes Assembly Line Planning to Save Time and Money
Auburn Hills, Mich., November 6, 2008 - Dassault Systèmes (DS) (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, announced that Tower Automotive Holding GmbH, based in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany, will soon implement its DELMIA Body-in-White solution to optimize planning and manufacturing processes associated with body and frame construction. The German subsidiary of Tower Automotive, headquartered in Novi, Michigan, develops and produces a wide range of parts employed in the construction of vehicle bodies, including stampings and assemblies for bodies and frames.
The precise welding and assembly of stamped metal body components play a critical role in the quality of automotive body production at Tower Automotive. In the past, any simulation of the sheet metal joining processes has been performed by outside companies using sophisticated models. From this point on, Tower Automotive plans to run its own simulation using the Body-in-White Metal Structure module on all new and ongoing projects that use complex manufacturing processes. A particular point of emphasis will be the exact rescheduling and validation of current production lines for both new and modified products. The objective is to efficiently design, modify, and manufacture components through a more straightforward procedure than has been used thus far.
"Until now, we entered components and joining points individually in MS Excel spreadsheets," says Ralf Krähe, the head of Program Management and Assembly Engineering at Tower Automotive in Europe. "As a result, the data wasn't interlinked. Instead, we simply had various systems, and it took a lot of work to combine them."
With this solution, all data is integrated into a single DELMIA hub repository. The automotive supplier is anticipating that the DELMIA solution will substantially optimize the many processes involved. "Some of the things we expect are a reduction in modification costs and the ability to quickly generate high-quality simulations of critical areas in the production lines for individual assemblies," Krähe explains.
DELMIA Body-in-White is a scalable solution that enables users to create, modify, and validate automotive body-in-white planning for lines and stations in a virtual 3D environment, prior to physical production. The solution's modular approach allows users to merge different plan segments into their systems at any given time. These partial segments can then be integrated into one complete process later on.
In addition to the Metal Structure module, Tower Automotive plans to implement other modules to enhance the independence of its workflow processes so product modifications and manufacturing processes can be validated, simulated, and evaluated directly. "As a result, we will be able to respond much more quickly to the OEM's requirements," says Krähe confidently. The company will benefit from processes that are both improved and simplified, and consequently its manufacturing operations will be more efficient and cost-effective.
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About Tower Automotive
Tower Automotive is one of the largest independent global suppliers of automotive metal structural components and assemblies. We serve virtually every major automotive vehicle manufacturer, providing a broad range of metal structures from stampings to complex body and frame assemblies. Our 10,000+ colleagues operate from roughly 40 manufacturing and product development facilities in 13 countries in North and South America, Europe and Asia. In Europe Tower is one of the leading designers and producers for stampings and complex body-in-white assemblies. As Full Service Supplier we cover the entire process chain for body-in-white: Project Management, Supply Chain Management, Simultaneous Engineering, Tool and Die, Stamping, Assembly, Hydroforming and Logistics. For additional information please visit
www.towerautomotive.com.
About Dassault Systèmes
As a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, Dassault Systèmes brings value to more than 100,000 customers in 80 countries. A pioneer in the 3D software market since 1981, Dassault Systèmes develops and markets PLM application software and services that support industrial processes and provide a 3D vision of the entire lifecycle of products from conception to maintenance to recycling. The Dassault Systèmes portfolio consists of CATIA for designing the virtual product - SolidWorks for 3D mechanical design - DELMIA for virtual production - SIMULIA for virtual testing - ENOVIA for global collaborative lifecycle management, and 3DVIA for online 3D lifelike experiences. Dassault Systèmes' shares are listed on Euronext Paris (#13065, DSY.PA) and Dassault Systèmes' ADRs may be traded on the US Over-The-Counter (OTC) market (DASTY). For more information, visit
http://www.3ds.com.
CATIA, DELMIA, ENOVIA, SIMULIA, SolidWorks and 3DVIA are registered trademarks of Dassault Systèmes or its subsidiaries in the US and/or other countries.
Dassault Systèmes Press Contacts:
Derek Lane (DS Americas)
derek.lane@3ds.com
+1 (818) 673-2243
Virginie BLINDENBERG (DS EMEA)
virginie.blindenberg@3ds.com
+ 33.1.55.49.84.21
Therese Snow (DELMIA Americas)
therese.snow@3ds.com
+1 (248) 205-5143