With the introduction of advanced electronic systems, the automotive industry is rapidly evolving. The complexity of automotive designs, from electric vehicles (EVs), to autonomous driving, has increased. This includes the complexity of automotive harness design.
Wire harnesses are responsible for the transmission of power and information within the vehicle. Wire harnesses are made up of over 1.8 miles and weigh about 27 pounds. There are also thousands of different configurations. They’re not only getting heavier and more complex, but they also generate a growing amount of data..
Digitalization is helping companies to find more efficient ways of managing the production and design of these complex wire harnesses. We’ll look at three ways that digitalization can help manage the complexity of automotive harness designs, as well as how Siemens Xcelerator streamlines design, testing and production.
1. Enhanced design accuracy and efficiency
Digital tools allow engineers to create designs that are more accurate, detailed and precise while reducing design iterations. Engineers can visualize the entire harness using sophisticated software. This allows them to better understand the spatial relationships within the vehicle. This method helps minimize errors due to incorrect calculations of wire lengths or incorrect connector placements.
The simulation software is crucial in this regard, as it allows for the testing of different configurations without having to make physical prototypes. Simulation software can, for example, predict how the harness behaves under different environmental conditions such as heat or vibration. This ensures the design is robust even before a physical model is created. It not only reduces development time, but also the associated costs of iterative testing.
2. Streamlined collaboration among teams
Digitalization has improved collaboration between teams, which is one of the biggest benefits. As automotive design involves multiple disciplines–electrical, mechanical, safety, and production–effective communication and data sharing are crucial. Digital tools create a digital thread that allows real-time data updates and sharing. This ensures all teams are on one page.
Cloud-based platforms enable team members to collaborate from anywhere, regardless of geographical boundaries. All team members, including those who work on the interface systems of the vehicle, can instantly access changes made by an engineer. This integration reduces risk of data mismatches, delays and other issues.
3. Automated documentation and compliance
Automotive design is critical to complying with industry regulations and standards. The digitalization of documentation is a great help in this area, as it automates the creation of documents for testing and compliance. Software can create detailed reports of harness designs and schematics, which are important for internal quality control as well as regulatory submissions.
These digital tools, which are constantly updated to reflect the latest standards and regulations, ensure that designs meet current requirements, without the need for manual supervision. Automation reduces the risk of compliance problems, which could lead to costly delays or redesigns later in the process.
Siemens Xcelerator: Your key to a digitalized harness business
Digital technologies are the only way to provide sophisticated solutions for automotive harness design. Digitalization simplifies design processes, improves efficiency, and increases reliability by enhancing accuracy and streamlining collaboration.
Many industry leaders turn to Siemens Xcelerator for comprehensive digital solutions that can effectively tackle these challenges. This integrated portfolio, which includes software, services, and an application-development platform, is designed to help companies accelerate their digital transformation. It allows them to innovate faster and reap the benefits of digitization. Siemens Xcelerator allows automotive companies to reduce their time-to-market, improve flexibility, and ensure quality and compliance – all key factors for thriving in a competitive industry.
Watch this on-demand webinar to learn how you can leverage the power of Siemens Xcelerator to navigate the complexities of automotive harness design and drive your projects to successful completion.
You may also want to download our whitepaper, “Digitalizing your wire harness business,” to learn why digitalizing the wire harness business is no longer a question of whether we should, it is more a question of how fast we can do it.
By Sarah Bartash
