This includes cockpit pre-assembly, for example, where the cockpit is put together before being installed in the vehicle. For the first time, building, systems, logistics and assembly planners, together with production employees, were able to assess the whole of the new production area in virtual reality and test new procedures in 3D.
“Virtual reality technology has enabled us to set up cockpit pre-assembly workstations quickly and efficiently," said Matthias Schindler, responsible for Virtual Planning and Implementation in Production at the BMW Group.
"Time-consuming trial installations that replicate the workstation in its actual dimensions were no longer needed. And the fact that all the specialists involved – from logistics experts to systems planners to production employees – were easily able to exchange ideas in the early stages was an important added benefit for the team. We were more transparent, more flexible and faster overall.”
Production of the existing cockpit continued during preparations without any constraints, since planning only took up space in the virtual world.
The basis for this kind of planning is digitalised 3D factory data. For the past several years, BMW has been capturing the real structures of its plants in digital form, using 3D scanners and high-resolution cameras.
This creates a three-dimensional image of production in the form of a so-called cloud diagram. Time-consuming, digital reconstruction of real structures and manual recording on site are no longer needed.
Whether planning future workplaces or entire assembly halls, BMW Group departments can now combine existing data with a virtual "library" of shelves, lattice boxes, small load carriers and around 50 other widely-used operating resources.
