Integration of 3D Laser Scanning Into Traditional DES Project Methodology

Today’s product development cycles demand manufacturing system development to meet ever changing product requirements and shifting production volumes. To assess and plan production capacities, companies rely on decision support from simulation and modeling. The simulation models are used to test and verify scenarios in a non-disrupting environment. To efficiently model a manufacturing system physical familiarity with the real system is often necessary. Likewise, to communicate the results of a simulation model, its visual resemblance to the studied system provides input for decision makers. 3D laser scanning offers photorealistic 3D capture of spatial measurements and has successfully been used in manufacturing environments. This research proposes the integration of 3D laser scanning into a traditional simulation project methodology in order to aid decision-making. Some promising stages for integration have been identified based on a technology demonstrator in the aerospace industry