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"DELMIA bridges the gap between virtual planning and real-world execution."

MarketingIndustryArena GmbH on April 8, 2025 at 12:00 PM
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Interview with Kai Lehmann, Senior Sales Expert at DELMIA, a brand of Dassault Systèmes specializing in digital manufacturing, production planning, and operations management.


IndustryArena: DELMIA is part of Dassault Systèmes and contributes to the digital transformation of the industry. Could you briefly describe what makes your company special and what vision you pursue?

Kai Lehmann: As part of Dassault Systèmes, DELMIA is a key player in the digital transformation of the industry. The company stands out for its focus on optimizing manufacturing processes and operations through digital solutions. This includes the planning, simulation, and execution of production processes, where virtual models of production environments are created to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance product quality. A crucial aspect is DELMIA’s integration into Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform, which enables seamless connectivity between design, manufacturing, and operations while fostering collaboration and data exchange across different departments and locations. DELMIA bridges the gap between virtual planning and real-world execution by allowing companies to detect and resolve potential issues early through simulations.


Digital twins, simulations, and AI are becoming increasingly important in the industry. How does DELMIA use these technologies to create real value?

DELMIA utilizes digital twins, simulations, and AI across industries to rethink manufacturing. In the automotive sector, digital factory twins enable virtual planning and optimization of production lines, while robot simulations perfect complex welding processes. In aerospace, assembly simulations improve efficiency in aircraft manufacturing, and digital engine twins enable predictive maintenance. Industrial equipment manufacturers optimize their production lines using simulations and AI-driven predictive maintenance to minimize downtime. DELMIA enables the creation of digital factories where material flows can be modeled and optimized, making the entire production process more efficient. These technologies allow companies to test scenarios virtually, reduce errors, and improve product quality, ultimately leading to greater competitiveness.


How important is collaboration with partners and customers for DELMIA in driving Industry 4.0 forward?

The 3DEXPERIENCE platform provides a collaborative environment where DELMIA, our partners, and customers can work together in real time. This promotes seamless data exchange, knowledge sharing, and idea generation, leading to faster innovation cycles and more efficient problem-solving. Our partners can contribute their specialized expertise and industry solutions directly to the platform, helping us create comprehensive solutions tailored to our customers' specific needs. The platform also allows us to enhance customer proximity, as partners can use it to apply their expertise on-site, fostering close and trusted relationships.

Furthermore, the 3DEXPERIENCE platform serves as the foundation for developing and implementing Industry 4.0 solutions. It digitally connects people, processes, and systems, resulting in higher efficiency, flexibility, and agility. Our partners play a crucial role in implementing these solutions by providing expertise in system integration, data analysis, and process optimization. In summary, the 3DEXPERIENCE platform is an essential part of our strategy to drive Industry 4.0. It enables close collaboration with partners, enhances customer proximity, and serves as a foundation for developing and implementing innovative solutions.


The 3DEXPERIENCE platform promises seamless digital continuity. How does it help companies transition into a connected future?

Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform is more than just software—it is a comprehensive business experience platform that allows companies to navigate a connected future seamlessly. Its core promise lies in ensuring digital continuity, breaking down traditional silos, and enabling an uninterrupted flow of data across the entire product lifecycle.

Imagine that from the first concept idea to the final product and beyond, every piece of information, every change, and every interaction is stored in a single, accessible environment. This means that teams, regardless of their geographic distribution or specific function, can collaborate in real time, always up to date and sharing a common understanding.

This platform not only promotes internal collaboration but also fosters innovation. By integrating advanced technologies such as 3D modeling and simulation, companies can test and validate their ideas faster and more efficiently. This accelerates product development and allows businesses to respond more agilely to market demands.


The shortage of skilled workers is a major issue in the industry. How can digital solutions like those from DELMIA help preserve knowledge and ease the burden on workers?

Virtual commissioning with DELMIA is a prime example of how digital solutions can counteract the shortage of skilled workers. Essentially, it involves digitally modeling and simulating production systems and processes before they are implemented in reality. This simulation captures the knowledge of experienced engineers and production planners in a digital environment, preserving it for future generations instead of losing it when experts retire. Using 3D models and simulations also makes complex processes easier to visualize and pass on to new employees.

Furthermore, virtual commissioning helps reduce the workload on employees. Errors and problems can be identified and resolved early in the planning phase, avoiding costly and time-consuming rework in real production. Simulating workflows allows ergonomic aspects to be considered and optimized, reducing physical strain on workers. Additionally, production processes can be optimized in advance, leading to more efficient resource use and reduced downtime. Early error detection significantly shortens the time needed for real commissioning, allowing skilled workers to focus on other tasks. Instead of having experienced technicians spend hours troubleshooting physical systems, they can do so in the virtual environment. New employees can be trained virtually without disrupting or endangering real production. Planning and optimizing production processes become more efficient and less error-prone. DELMIA applications on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform are powerful tools to address the challenges of the skilled labor shortage by preserving knowledge and easing the burden on workers.


Let’s talk about sustainability: How does digital manufacturing help companies operate in a more resource-efficient way?

Digital factory planning and simulation with DELMIA allow companies to make their production processes more sustainable in terms of energy consumption and material efficiency. A major issue in many manufacturing plants is high energy consumption, which is exacerbated by inefficient processes and unnecessary downtime. Often, there is a lack of transparency regarding the actual energy usage of individual systems and processes. DELMIA addresses this by enabling detailed virtual planning and simulation of production facilities. By integrating sensor data and energy models, companies can monitor and analyze energy consumption in real time. DELMIA also offers tools to optimize production workflows, minimizing idle times and reducing energy use. By simulating different production scenarios, companies can choose the most energy-efficient option. Specific applications include the simulation and optimization of conveyor systems, analysis of energy consumption for robots and machine tools, and planning and simulation of production layouts to optimize material flow. By using DELMIA, companies can not only lower energy consumption and associated CO2 emissions but also cut energy costs and improve resource efficiency, leading to a more sustainable production process overall.


Do you have a success story of a company that has made significant progress with DELMIA technologies?

One company that has significantly benefited from not only DELMIA but also the broader Dassault Systèmes applications on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform is 3CON, a global leader in manufacturing special machinery for automotive interior production.

The challenge: 3CON needed to shorten the design and production time for its custom machinery.

The solution: 3CON made all the applications required for designing and manufacturing their custom machinery available on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. This included 3D design with CATIA, 2.5- to 5-axis milling and simulation with DELMIA, and project management with ENOVIA—all fully integrated.

As a result, 3CON reduced the commissioning phase of their machinery at customer sites by 50% and shortened the design and manufacturing process by 30%. Another major advantage was enhanced collaboration. Assembly workers could interactively record changes in the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, ensuring that all project stakeholders were always up to date.


Finally, looking ahead: How do you envision manufacturing in 2035, and what is your wish for the future of the industry?

Manufacturing in 2035 will be shaped by a series of interconnected developments. A key factor will be the ongoing automation, driven by increasingly powerful artificial intelligence and robotics. Collaborative robots, known as cobots, will become indispensable partners for human workers, enabling more efficient and flexible production processes. Comprehensive digitalization and connectivity, known as Industry 4.0 or even Industry 5.0, will form the foundation for data-driven optimization. The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) will enable seamless communication between machines, equipment, and systems, allowing for real-time analytics and precise forecasting. Industry 5.0 will emphasize the return of humans to the center of production by taking collaboration between humans and machines to a new level.

Another crucial factor is the growing importance of sustainability and the circular economy. Manufacturing processes will increasingly focus on minimizing their environmental footprint and conserving resources. Circular economy principles will be integrated into the entire production cycle to reduce waste and promote the reuse of materials. Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, will continue to evolve and play a key role in producing customized products and complex components. At the same time, manufacturing will become more decentralized and flexible to meet the needs of individual customers and regional markets.

My wish for the future of the industry is that it develops into a sustainable and human-centered sector. An industry that embraces ecological responsibility, promotes social justice, and places people at the heart of its activities. I hope that by 2035, the industry will not only be more efficient and productive but also more responsible and sustainable—an environment where innovative technologies are used for the benefit of society and where human skills and talents are truly valued.


Mr. Lehmann, thank you very much for the interesting and insightful conversation.


For more information about DELMIA, click here.