Simulation in a virtual environment to operate with an automatic production line used in the automotive industry

The globalization of the economy has increased competition and intense dispute for new markets. It has accelerated the evolution of technology in all segments. Manufacturing automation, robotics production lines, programmable logic controllers (PLC), simulation and offline programming of equipment technologies are known by the main companies, but the integration of these technologies is always a complex issue and requires timing. Actually it expands time in development of standards, in design software and simulations, while much work still remains to be done in the field. Aligned with the technology of Digital Factory there is a technology of Virtual Commissioning. With this technology it is possible to bring to the lab environment a lot of solutions found so far only in the installation phase. The real commissioning is still necessary, but with less activity and uncertainties. This work is based pilot project developed by Volkswagen of Brazil for virtual commissioning in a manufacturing cell.