Nissan expects to cut lead times by a third with simulation tools

By implementing simulation software specialist, Applied Computing and Engineering’s CimStation robotics and inspection offline programming software, Nissan’s Sunderland plant expects to see its production lead times fall by a third, in the run up to the launch of its new Primera Sedan car. “We chose offline programming to reduce downtime incurred by online programming,” explains Nissan’s BIW planning engineer, Craig Grafton. “CimStation robotics and inspection [software] gives us a consistent manufacturing simulation environment with which to share robotic and inspection data with our colleagues in Japan even though the robots and CMMs [coordinate measuring machines] may be different.” The software will be used to program robots ahead of production of the Primera, helping engineers identify potential problem areas such as spot welding access for the robots as new tooling is being developed. And offline programming of CMMs to inspect engine parts and vehicle body panels will draw on CAD data from Nissan’s design office and Japan’s engineering section which also uses the same software.