Audi successfully extends simulation environment to include logistics planning

German automotive manufacturing giant Audi says its award-winning logistics planning solution – Virtual Logistics (ViLog) – is not only reducing costs but further improving quality throughout its car body and tooling operations. The system is based on a considerable extension of the firm’s existing manufacturing process planning (MPM) environment, developed using Tecnomatix’s eMPower solutions, now for movements planning. Andreas Rapp, head of Logistics Planning A3 at Audi, says it’s “an innovative solution that will lead us into a new dimension of virtual production.” Before Audi’s ViLog went live, logistics planning data was distributed among several applications, and management of existing data, as well as new parts data, generating reports and the rest had become time-consuming. ViLog reduces planning effort essentially by providing a single, multi-use platform for logistics planning right from the earliest stages. The car giant says the system increases transparency of its planning processes as well as providing accurate views of detailed project status. It also allows for more detailed planning and control of logistics processing times, costs – including external and internal transport, handling etc – and space requirements. And Audi says that means any potential for optimisation can be identified and verified much earlier and much more easily, helping to reduce required resources and corresponding costs. eM-Planner handles the data management and provides the core planning functionality that drive ViLog’s logistics management and user interfaces. Tecnomatix’s eM-Reports then generate all logistics reports. “The development of our eMPower solution is a strategic project that enables us to manage complex planning tasks, improve planning quality and reduce costs,” says Rapp. “Our new ViLog logistics planning solution is a key component of our MPM environment.” Apart from logistics planning, Audi has been using eM-Planner for process planning in several car body and tooling projects. Applications now in use here include eM-Planner, eM-Reports, eM-Workplace, and eM-Plant.