Digital Manufacturing

Digital Manufacturing is the logical capability of defining, simulating, optimizing, and validating manufacturing processes in a virtual environment — line layouts, robotic cells, ergonomics, assembly sequences, NC programs — using the same product definition that engineering authors. CIMdata defines it as solutions supporting collaborative manufacturing planning between disciplines using complete digital product definitions including tooling and process data.

What it covers

• Plant and line design — layout, capacity, material flow, logistics simulation.
• Manufacturing process planning — operations, routings, BOP (Bill of Process), workcell allocation.
• Robotic and human ergonomics simulation — feasibility before tooling is cut.
• Virtual commissioning (see below) — control-code validation against a virtual line.
• NC program verification — toolpath collision and reachability checks.
• Closed-loop feedback from execution (MES) into the digital plan.

Position in the stack

Digital Manufacturing sits between engineering (CAD, MBOM/EBOM) and execution (MES/MOM): it consumes the released MBOM and routing, expands them into time-resolved process simulations, and emits validated work plans to the floor.

Relationships (see sidebar)

• Depends on Process Simulation and MES and Digital Mockup (the iDMU is the master model for digital manufacturing).
• Supports CAM Manufacturing Planning, Manufacturing Execution, and NPI.
• Implemented by Tecnomatix (Plant Simulation, Process Simulate), DELMIA, and Opcenter for execution.