In a modern, advanced manufacturing plant, space needs to be used efficiently, including the allocation of work cells, production lines, machinery, and people. This can be extremely challenging. In the current economy, production plants also bear higher costs of industrial space due to rising real estate prices. When your workplace demands efficient and optimal processes, using a digital 3D plant layout model can define opportunities for better space utilization, workflows, and improved safety to boost overall asset utilization rates and ROIs.

3D Plant Layout vs 2D Drawings

Traditionally, engineers have been using 2D drawings to design plant layouts based on hand-measured metrics. When plant design becomes more complex, lacking the vertical dimension makes it hard to position the placement accurately.


Compared to 2D models and drawings, an "as-built" 3D model provides more structural engineering information, such as overhead clearances, elevations, and structural integrity.

3D plant layout of a manufacturing production line

How is a 3D Plant Layout created?

With unparalleled speed and accuracy, 3D laser scanning is a non-intrusive way to capture entire plants, production lines, work cells, equipment, and operator workspaces in full detail. With a state-of-the-art 3D laser scanner, our 3D experts capture as many views as the project scope requires around the site. The manufacturing plant is recorded as 3D point cloud data and can later be used to build an “as-built” 3D CAD model.

3D Scanning and 3D Plant Layout

What value does a 3D Plant Layout provide?

With detailed, accurate 3D information, the complex industrial space, processes, and people workspaces are accurately represented in the 3D plant layout, offering key information on where workflow and space utilization improvements can be made. For plant expansions and change planning, changes can be applied in the virtual 3D environment to readily simulate additions and movements in the physical world. This ensures fitment and prevents downtime from errors in changes.

Benefits of Deploying 3D Technology & Expertise to Plant Design & Workflow

  • Create, modify, and validate plant designs and layouts

  • Digital simulation of the movement or addition of people, furnishings, and equipment that would fit in the current space and optimization relative to planned improvements
  • Optimize existing plant layout and processes

  • Create a “Digital Twin” to understand, monitor, and predict the physical asset

Check out our full list of manufacturing 3D services, also 3D scanning services for manufacturing plant and use our 3D expertise today.

Photo Credit: Leica-geosystems.com.

3D Expertise to Exceed Today’s Building Standards

Let us get you started by filling the adjacent form.