2009 Innovation Insight Awards: Manufacturing meets 3D design
Right Hemisphere offers an easy approach to manufacturing complex products
Roberto Michel, Senior Contributing Editor -- Manufacturing Business Technology, 7/1/2009 12:00:00 AM
MOST INNOVATIVE PRODUCT BY A VENDOR ¦ FOURTH PLACE
Numerous studies have proven that learning a task becomes much easier if the student can observe it being performed in the proper manner.
Right Hemisphere has taken that concept to new heights with its 3D Visual Manufacturing Solution, the fourth place finisher among vendor products in MBT's 2009 Innovation Insight Awards competition.
The 3D Visual Manufacturing Solution helps bridge the gap between design and manufacturing of complex products by adding animated, visual work instructions to text-based instructions. The solution helps accelerate accurate production in-house, while also helping manufacturers communicate with globally dispersed partners.
Sharing information in this manner is becoming extremely valuable in today's global economy, as companies form value chains encompassing partners from around the world. Being able to view work instructions rather than read them can reduce errors that might result from poor language translations.
The software uses a lightweight format to deploy visual work instructions to the shop floor, making use of 3D content from major CAD tools. Right Hemisphere has been working with clients on the solution for some time, and by the end of 2008, all the components were in place, including the Deep Exploration 5.5 client software introduced last April. That update supports creation of real-time 3D manufacturing instructions. Additionally, Visual Manufacturing is being integrated into SAP's Manufacturing "CAMS" solution for the aerospace & defense industry.
The world's largest supplier of commercial airplane assemblies and components, Spirit AeroSystems, is currently deploying Right Hemisphere's software to generate visual routers. Once they are in production later this year, these animated visual work instructions will aid shop-floor personnel building fuselages in Spirit's Wichita, Kansas-based facilities.
http://www.righthemisphere.com
