Approaching LCR 4.0
Valuechain approached LCR 4.0 in order to collaborate on a platform that would demystify Industry 4.0 and encourage SMEs to adopt the latest digital manufacturing technologies. Valuechain decided to create a virtual smart factory to showcase the latest in digital manufacturing technologies and demonstrate the effect it can have on their business.
Valuechain Group CEO – Tom Dawes, has successfully collaborated with University of Liverpool for more than 20 years and believes creating a connected ecosystem of industrial and academic partners can drive innovation with tangible productivity improvements and commercialisation opportunities.
Partner Support
The Virtual Engineering Centre (VEC) has worked with Valuechain previously on projects which include the likes of Northern Automotive Alliance and Bentley Motors. Further enhancing this relationship, the VEC looked to underpin Valuechain’s vision, with the technological knowledge and expertise of the virtual environment. The team also looked into collecting and using real factory data, and how this can be shown across a virtual environment whilst still bringing benefit to SMEs.
Results
The DNA4.0 Smart Factory, demonstrates Valuechain’s productivity, collaboration and intelligence solutions using an immersive virtual reality environment to demonstrate the benefits of digitalisation on an SME’s value chain. It follows the journey from sales, engineering, purchasing and raw materials stores through to production, inspection, finished goods stores and customer delivery.
The virtual factory will also incorporate an innovative gamification model with real-world challenges to provide an engaging and educational platform that is accessible beyond traditional industry. The immersive platform also showcases latest technologies that Valuechain have implemented with innovation leading businesses such as Airbus (additive manufacturing), Bentley Motors (product lifecycle innovation) and Rolls Royce (supply chain intelligence).
Working into the Future
Valuechain is now using DNA4.0 to communicate the building blocks for a successful Industry 4.0 strategy and demonstrate how smart software can generate quick win productivity improvements by streamlining operations and generating business intelligence.
The virtual reality DNA4.0 Smart Factory demonstrator will be showcased and featured at the Manufacturer Live 2017 in Liverpool from 15th – 17th November 2017.
We are confident that DNA4.0 can start to address the future digital manufacturing skills shortage by making manufacturing and STEM courses much more attractive to school pupils, apprentices and undergraduates. DNA4.0 will also help bridge the current knowledge gap by upskilling today’s workforce to become more digitally aware and confident to exploit Industry 4.0.
Tom Dawes
This project has enabled us to bridge the gap between emerging technologies and real-world manufacturing. We are excited that the virtual factory experience will engage users at all levels, and for the potential impact on schools, colleges and universities.
Lynn Dwyer, Commercial Director for the VEC
