From the model to the digital factory: Integration between planning and production process

In the most industrialised countries, extremely developed economics provided some conditions which have magnified final users purchasing power. In this scenario - given the intrinsic structure of markets - the success of a manufacturing system is increasingly linked to its capacity of creating innovations. This target, which is also connected to costs reduction, could be easily reached if the company is appropriately equipped for the use of computerised systems (tools) operating in a “virtual reality” and perrmitting prototype development of both products and manufacturing process. In the present work, we have considered a product relatively new for the Italian market and have tested the possibility of innovation of the products/manufacturing process by means of the synergetic effect of two specific software programs used both for the design, modelling and prototyping of mechanical parts and for the planning and simulation of the manufacturing cycle. The results obtained are undoubtedly interesting above all in the perspective of application to the manufacturing systems of small and medium sized enterprises.