Mercedes-Benz is using advanced technologies at its factories in Germany, Hungary, and China to prepare them for the production of Mercedes Modular Architecture (MMA) based models from the middle of the decade. The carmaker is also using Nvidia’s Omniverse system to create digital twins of its factories.
The car manufacturer describes its efforts as the ‘Digital First’ approach and is already using its MO360 digital production ecosystem at 30 plants worldwide. This system uses real-time data to connect all of these factories and provides Mercedes-Benz with the flexibility to produce electric, hybrid, and combustion vehicles on the same factory line.
The firm’s factory in Rastatt, Germany is also making good use of its digital twin technology. By using Nvidia’s Omniverse technology, Mercedes-Benz has been able to create a production facility in the virtual world, allowing it to determine the exact positioning of machines, supply routes, and production lines to prepare for the production of MMA-based models, recently previewed with the Concept CLA. This technology also allows Mercedes-Benz to ramp up production significantly faster and it will use the virtual ramp-up in Rastatt as a blueprint for its global production network.
Read: Mercedes-Benz To Use Nvidia Systems To Create Digital Twins Of Its Factories
Mercedes-Benz is investing hundreds of millions of euros in its Rastatt plant to ready it for MMA production. Not only does the use of a digital twin help it to double the speed for converting or constructing an assembly hall but it also improves the quality of the processes and allows it to detect errors at an earlier stage.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is also being used in Rastatt. The technology has helped to boost efficiency in the painting process and also contributed to 20% savings when used to monitor sub-processes, rather than a conventional programmable logic controller.
“Digitalization will enable a whole new era of efficiency for the automotive industry,” vice president of Omniverse and simulation technology at Nvidia, Reb Lebaredian, said. “Using NVIDIA Omniverse and AI, Mercedes-Benz is building a connected, digital-first approach to optimize its manufacturing processes, ultimately reducing construction time and production costs.”
