Renault Group settles into the future with its industrial metaverse

Unveiled in October 2022 during the Tech Industry Days at the Flins Refactory, Renault Group’s industrial metaverse mainly features digital models of its factories, state-of-the-art facilities in their own right. A virtual universe built primarily on astronomical amounts of data. Every day, billions of data from the Group‘s industrial sites are collected and stored in the cloud. Robots, screwdrivers, vehicles, delivery trucks… each object or piece of machinery has what is called its own ‘digital twin’ (a virtual 3D copy) that generates real-time data and uses a common language to communicate with other units.

• Go faster and better

This brings us to the first advantage of the industrial metaverse: using mass data mining to create instant visualisations of everything happening at the factory.

“We know in real time how many parts have been produced, according to which parameters, and how much energy was used,” explained eric Marchiol , Metaverse Industry & Quality Director for 雷诺 . “Some operations, such as placing a screw or an airbag, seem quite simple when taken out of context. But your airbag still needs to arrive at the right time with everything you need to trace all its components, your electric drills to be properly calibrated, and your operators to have the right training to perfectly carry out the required tasks,” he continued. Eric added that the metaverse helps save precious time when producing new technology for the first time (40% faster). Above all else, the industrial metaverse gives greater “visibility” and “understanding of the ecosystem”, added Francois Lavernos , CIO Industry and Renault Brand. A form of centralised oversight that makes it possible to adjust any parameter much faster, be it monitoring parts and car deliveries or sales forecasts. It also enhances responsiveness in the event of a problem, for example if there is an issue with the supply chain and parts that were meant to have been delivered to the factory have been delayed. The enhanced response time means greater control over quality and improved performance. Another advantage with connected factories is that stock levels (and therefore any related costs) can be reduced, energy use for machinery can be better managed (and reduced), and the lifespan of equipment more readily extended through predictive maintenance. The idea is to plan ahead as early as possible to better avoid machines breaking down.

• Tomorrow, an even smarter metaverse

While the metaverse is a virtual space, it still has very real effects on teams on the ground. The novelty here lies in having “access to apps and data on tablets and smartphones for all operational lines. A team leader can therefore consult all relevant information right from a work-station without having to go back to their office,” said Eric Marchiol. In the future, this sort of streamlining could mean new ways of working, such as “near-automatic decision-making processes for things such as ordering spare parts, for example.” The metaverse also has a key role to play in terms of augmented or virtual reality training sessions for staff. It helps save resources by getting people to practise techniques in an entirely virtual space. Imagine training up a bodywork painter without using a single drop of paint!

• At the forefront of gaming

However, setting up a metaverse is no mean feat. The Group has to work with ageing systems, some of which are 25 years old and “will have to change,” added Fran?ois Lavernos. “An issue with our metaverse we are going to one day face, is that the IT systems behind it all will have to be replaced with newer ones that are more robust, more scalable, and better equipped to handle cybersecurity problems.” By making the shift to ‘Industry 4.0’ early on in the game, in 2016, Renault Group stood out as a pioneer of connected factories. In particular, it has partnered with Atos, a leader in digital transformation, to market an industrial data collection solution via its ID@scale (for ‘Industrial Data at scale’) platform. For Fran?ois Lavernos, the launch of an industrial metaverse could also be a terrific way to appeal to younger generations looking to work in a rapidly growing sector.

“Today,” he said, “operators work with technology that lies at the cutting edge of what is seen in gaming.” The Renault Group metaverse brings a breath of fresh air to the automotive industry and paves the way for an efficient, low-carbon future that is more appealing than ever before.