Longview publishes visual manufacturing paper

Longview Advisors has released a white paper entitled, 'The Advent of Visual Manufacturing', by David Prawel.

The report examines how 3D visualisation technology plays a new and profitable role in improving interoperability and communication between engineering and production departments.

Prawel identifies the persistent problem seen in almost every large manufacturing enterprise.

The gap between engineering and production - both in terms of open communication and compatibility between the different automated systems the department use - creates enormous waste in time and resources.

The strategic vision of a data system that spans the entire lifecycle of a product, Prawel argues, is rarely achieved in actual practice.

Historically, product data management systems have made Cad files the main currency in tracking and exchanging of project workflow.

'Too often critical data is held captive in regional or divisional "silos" - inaccessible to typically thousands more people who could benefit from it,' said Prawel.

Prawel examines a newly emergent alternative: 3D visualisation platforms that are easier for production personnel to use than traditional Cad applications.

Prawel dubs this new deployment of 3D data in downstream processes as the paradigm of visual manufacturing.

The white paper examines the advantages of this paradigm in addressing the perennial issues of collaboration and interoperability.

Prawel explores two business cases of manufacturers who cast a larger net over their processes with the use of lightweight visualisation data as the means of communications within production departments and between production and engineering.

Prawel sees potential in visual manufacturing to avoid the pitfalls endemic to a solely Cad-based manufacturing enterprise.

All the required data flows freely as needed between and among the people who need it (and who are authorised to see it), enabling fast decision making and standard, more efficient workflow.

The full 18-page publication is available in PDF format free from the company's website.

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