Maximizing advanced technology and facilities
A commitment to quality, even before the vehicle begins to take shape
The designer, working on microscopic details, strives for perfection with each stroke in the design sketch.
The 3-D design process, utilizing digital technology
Vehicles incorporate a wide variety of components that initially appear as digital design sketches. Our designers then combine these digital sketches as multiple layers to form a virtually complete vehicle.
Before these digital advances, a vehicle's various components could not always be assembled seamlessly during prototype production using traditional design methods. As a result, prototype test vehicles often had many small structural gaps that made wind and engine noise audible in the passenger cabin.
Using advanced digital engineering, we can now analyze magnified three-dimensional design simulations with great precision and accuracy. Even the smallest gaps can be detected and fixed. Nissan's high-precision 3-D design makes it possible to produce prototype vehicles that closely approximate mass-production vehicles.
The next step: using computer simulations to develop the best production process
In the “virtua” factory
Nissan uses a large number of industrial robots at its manufacturing plants. To maintain the highest quality, every movement these robots make must be precise and seamless. Each movement and action by a production line employee must also be precisely coordinated for maximum efficiency. We carefully study computer simulations of assembly operations before they are implemented on the line. These virtual factory simulations allow us to determine the ideal movements for assembly, delivering significant improvements in the production process.
We eliminate potential problems in complex electronic circuits before installation
The Electric Integration PlatForm (EIPF)
Vehicles incorporate a large and growing number of extremely complex electrical and electronic components. During the development phase, we connect the entire electronic system to circuits and check to ensure that everything functions correctly before the system is installed.
This inspection step, called EIPF*, verifies a range of items. For example, it confirms that a malfunction will not occur even if wrong or conflicting instructions are given, such as when multiple buttons are pressed or a button is pressed too hard.
- * EIPF is the abbreviation for Electric Integration PlatForm, Nissan's proprietary evaluation system that can identify program bugs found in complex electrical and electronic components.
