Based on the competition of international production networks, the pressure to - crease the efficiency of production systems has increased significantly. In ad- tion, the number of technical components in many products and as a consequence also the requirements for corresponding assembly processes and logistics pr- esses increases. International logistics networks require corresponding logistics concepts. These requirements can be managed only by using appropriate Digital Factory tools in the context of a product lifecycle management environment, which allows reusing data, supports an effective cooperation between different departments, and provides up-to-date and relevant data to every user who needs it. Simulating the complete material flow including all relevant production, st- age, and transport activities is recognized as a key component of the Digital F- tory in the industry and as of today widely used and accepted. Cutting inventory and throughput time by 20-60% and enhancing the productivity of existing p- duction facilities by 15-20% can be achieved in real-life projects.
