OREANDA-NEWS. May 26, 2011. Fujitsu today announced the release of GP4, a new software for simulating the movements of production line workers, which is designed for customers in the manufacturing industry, such as automobile parts suppliers and precision electronics manufacturers. The new software is available starting today in Japan.

With GP4, users at the production preparation stage can create a virtual production line and run simulations on factors including the most efficient movements or positions of production workers, the optimal alignment of workers in relation to the flow of a production line, and the time required to complete specific production tasks. As a result, in addition to enabling greater efficiency in assembly work on a production line from the standpoint of people, the product enables workers to benchmark their work against the simulation results and share their understanding of problem areas with co-workers, leading to improvements on the front lines of assembly plants.

In addition, by using GP4 in conjunction with Fujitsu's virtual product simulator (VPS), a 3D virtual verification simulation tool for verifying assembly processes, users are able to verify the optimization of assembly processes from the dual perspectives of both the end product and the workers on the production line, thereby further improving manufacturing productivity.

A 40% reduction in production line assembly time was achieved in an early-release [beta-release] deployment of the software.

With the addition of this software to the company's line of product lifecycle solutions for the manufacturing industry, Fujitsu now offers support through information and communications technologies across the entire product lifecycle, from product planning to design, production preparation, production, and maintenance. Fujitsu is committed to delivering one-stop support for customers in production innovation in order to contribute to enhanced corporate competitiveness.

GP4 was developed by Lexer Research Inc., which has extensive experience and expertise in the preparatory processes for manufacturing operations.