French manufacturer embraces Industry 4.0 with the creation of its metaverse in which data plays a dominating role
Renault Group is accelerating its digitalisation with the first industrial “Metaverse”. Today, 100% of production lines are connected (8,500 pieces of equipment), 90% of supply flows are constantly monitored and 100% of Supply Chain data is hosted in the Renault Group Metaverse, a true replica of the physical world controlled in real time. Engaged in Industry 4.0 since 2016, digital technology has already led to savings of €780 million. By 2025, it will enable €320m in various savings, which will be added €260m in savings on inventories, a 60% reduction in vehicle delivery time and a 50% reduction in the carbon footprint of its vehicle manufacturing, as well as a significant reduction in innovation cycles and a contribution to the 60% reduction in warranty costs targeted by the Group.
According to Jose Vicente de los Mozos, EVP, Industry Group and Head of country Iberia, every day, a billion points of data are collected within the Renault Group’s industrial sites.
“The Metaverse provides real-time supervision that increases the agility and adaptability of industrial operations as well as the quality of production and the Supply Chain. Renault Group is becoming a pioneer in the sector,” he says.
Four Metaverse dimensions
Data: It all starts with data. To collect data from all its industrial sites, Renault has developed a unique data capturing and standardisation platform, developed to collect mass data which feeds the industrial Metaverse, therefore providing the levers for performance of the production process in real time.
Digital Twins: Renault then modelled its physical assets into digital twins. Each factory has its replica in the virtual world. Like the factories, the Supply Chain has its own digitised universe. It is an integral part of the industrial Metaverse and is also controlled in real time by a control tower.
Integration: The use of digital twins is enriched with supplier data, sales forecasts and quality information as well as exogenous information such as the weather or road traffic, etc., as well as Artificial Intelligence allowing the development of predictive scenarios.
Advanced Technology: The acceleration of this digital transformation is enabled by the convergence of advanced technologies (Cloud, real time, 3D, Big data etc). Renault has developed a unique platform for the convergence of technologies needed to run the digital twins and their networks in a resilient way.
Together, these four dimensions constitute a complete, persistent and real-time industrial Metaverse.
According to Frédéric Vincent, EVP, Information Systems and Digital, the functions offered by the Metaverse through better visibility of the work environment allows employees to gain agility and autonomy in decision making. Technology from the world of gaming makes user experiences more immersive. This is the case for example of painting training carried out in virtual reality. AI algorithms allow employees to anticipate, as do flow optimisation and management functions for Supply Chain experts.
“The technological maturity of Renault allows the company to reach an important step in its digitalisation and transformation: the control of our data, the choice of advanced technologies, and the expertise of our teams are all levers to accelerate towards the future we’re aiming for,” he concludes
- UK manufacturing steps up to COVID-19 crisis - April 2, 2020
- Clustering Innovation - March 12, 2020
- A Global Monitor - March 6, 2020