Effectiveness of Digital Factory for simple repetitive task simulation in medium-small enterprices

Digital Factory (DF) is widely applying to analyze and optimize the production of large products which involve complex assembly processes (e.g. automotive, shipbuilding, aerospace fields). The possibility to preview the product evolution allows to discover potential inconsistencies in the assembly cycles, evaluate the operation last, distribute and balance tasks among the assembly stations and workers, at design stage. Moreover, time and methods analysis with ergonomic simulation tools drives to a sound workplace optimization which consists in non value added actions and stressful work postures reduction. DF application also leads towards a more standardized task definition in terms of cycle time and repeatability. Therefore, even medium and small industries that produce non complex handworks could benefit from the employment of DF tools, especially for the correct evaluation of tasks duration and calculation of human resource requirements. Through the analysis of three industrial cases the authors have analyzed some of potentials and possible limits of DF applications to medium and small companies.