The digital factory arrives at CIM ’98

This report on the 1998 Computers in Manufacturing exhibition examines the 3D simulation software products on display. While hardly competing in volume with the popular ERP and MRP manufacturing control packages, the impact of simulation products is beginning to have a major impact not just on the planning but also on the control of whole factories. New products that were announced by four leading simulation product vendors are reviewed and this shows that the trend towards the digital factory is accelerating. As well as describing the specification of the new suites of software, examples are given of the benefits being achieved with existing simulation products in a UK car company and German shipyard.