How Can You Convert Your Physical Factory into a Digital Model Using Point Cloud Data?

Point cloud data has been around for a while and has found application in many areas. Point cloud data is generated using LiDAR wherein laser beams bounce off objects and are captured as point data, along with attributes such as RGB information. Point cloud data has enabled the creation of detailed digital models like building information models (BIMs), which are digital representations of buildings to be built. These digital representations of real-world objects help stakeholders to monitor assets and their use and changes.

In recent times, point cloud technology has been used to convert a physical factory into a digital model using point cloud conversion. 3D scanning services can be leveraged to obtain detailed point cloud data of real-world assets and these can be scaled up to represent large-scale and complex entities like factories. Technology is now sufficiently advanced that point cloud lets anyone run a factory from anywhere. This article presents information on digital twin simulation and smart factory automation and explains how you can convert a physical into a digital factory using point cloud modeling and point cloud technology simulation.

What is a Digital Twin of a Factory?

A digital twin is a relatively new term that refers to an exact digital replica of real-world assets, such as a factory. These digital twins are created using 3D point cloud data of a facility or asset and contain pertinent and detailed information of the asset or facility. The digital twin also gets updated with real-time information of the physical asset through IoT sensors attached to the physical asset. This allows for real-time monitoring of the physical asset, which can result in digital twin-driven smart manufacturing.

How is a Digital Twin or Model of a Factory Created?

The digital twin in the smart factory is created using point cloud technology. Bridging the physical into the digital factory is a complex process and that's why, if you're looking to create a digital twin simulation, you might want to hire the services of specialized providers who will capture the data of the asset using LiDAR technology. Once the point cloud technology is obtained, it needs to be digitized and developed into a digital twin to enable things like factory remodeling or smart factory automation. A digital twin will also be needed to be provided with “live” data from sensors fitted onto the physical assets/objects.

What are the Benefits of a Digital Model of a Physical Factory?

When you use point cloud data to create a digital twin or digital model of a physical factory, you can leverage many benefits, including -

• Enhanced Availability and Reliability

  With a digital twin, you can more effectively monitor, simulate, and control various assets, processes, or networks in the factory to improve performance and efficiency. The more information that is in your digital model, the better it is, and we are seeing increasingly more sophisticated digital twins that are helping companies better manage the operations in their factories.

• Reduced Risk

  When you convert your factory into a digital model, you can reduce process- and asset-related issues and prevent unplanned downtime. With this, the health and safety of your employees and work environment can be protected. You can also proactively identify risk-related issues and take steps to mitigate them so that they do not become a major hindrance further down the line.

• Low Maintenance Costs

  With a digital twin, you also get information on all your assets and processes at your fingertips, allowing you to identify and fix any issues well before they become major problems. You can predict problems before things like breakdowns occur and proactively order relevant parts and equipment and schedule repairs at times when there is the least disruption to business processes.

• Improved Production

  With data coming in from physical assets in the factory to the digital model, you get insights into the performance of your processes and assets in real-time. With this, you can ensure product quality and minimize any impacts on your supply chain. A digital twin of experimental smart manufacturing also provides you with real-time capabilities and analytics to help you ramp up production and identify opportunities for savings and efficiency.

Outsource Point Cloud and Digital Modeling Services to Flatworld Solutions and Reap a Host of Benefits

Flatworld Solutions is a leading provider of a range of engineering services as well as comprehensive and detailed point cloud and digital modeling services. We can help manufacturing and consulting companies convert physical factory setups to digital models through point cloud data for various purposes. We cater to various applications like asset management, facility management/automation, factory remodeling, digital twin, etc. We also leverage multiple CAD software like CATIA, Revit, SolidWorks, etc., to provide our clients with cutting-edge services. Some tasks we can perform include -

• Convert paper to CAD model
• Convert point cloud scan data to a CAD model
• Create Revit families or CAD libraries for AR/VR training
• Create assets (MEP, firefighting, etc.) in digital/CAD models for asset tagging/facility management purposes (IoT framework application)

If you are looking for highly secure and professional point cloud and digital modeling services, contact us now to take a productive route to success.