Digital Process Optimization of an Aeronautical Assembly Line: A Case Study at Leonardo S.p.A

The digital modeling and optimization of production processes in the aerospace sector are crucial endeavor for enhancing operational efficiency and competitiveness. This paper presents the process optimization strategy of an aerospace production line by adopting the discrete event simulation technique. The 3DExperience platform has been chosen as a promising co-simulation tool for the digital model development. The production processes have been digitally modeled, and process flows have been analyzed for achieving a comprehensive line flow balancing optimization identifying critical bottlenecks. Various scenarios have been analyzed and compared enhancing process operational efficiency. Initial results outline significant imbalances in the utilization of workstations, suggesting a lack of efficiency in resource allocation. The simulation phase has demonstrated that strategic line balancing can mitigate the issues, leading to more balanced workloads among the stations.