Aspects on a Digitalized Industrialization Process: Are There Challenges to Overcome?

Abstract

Increased possibilities to utilize digital tools in the industrialization process where a product move from conceptualization toward mass production is challenged with how to develop resilience in such process. Several digital tools such as CAD, CAE, Production flow analysis, assembly analysis, and off-line programming of robots and CNC machines are commonly used in industry for both product development and production. There are also many good initiatives such as computational multidisciplinary design optimization or design automation in the aircraft industry to integrate such digital tools and increase the efficiency of the generating and distributing of information. However to maximize the benefit of digitalization, a fully digitalized platform is required where all parties including the product development team, manufacturing resources, suppliers, and even customers can contribute efficiently. Although establishing such a digitilized platform seems very promising, it confronts many challenges in a large firm. Hence, this paper, based on a theoretical outlook related to industrial observations, will explore challenges and opportunities related to the digitalization of product development and the manufacturing process.