3D facilities planning

For years we’ve done our facilities layouts (assembly areas, machining departments, even office layouts) as a simple plan view using a legacy 2D CAD system (Softech’s Cadra). It’s proven effective and we’ve established our own library of symbols to represent various machines, test cells, benches and furniture. We now have a request to be able to provide better visualization of proposed layouts for new or revised facilities. In essence, management wants to be able to see 3D renderings and do basic walk-throughs before anything is physically built or moved. Although Pro/E (soon Creo 2 Parametric) is our primary 3D CAD system, I’m recommending we look at Autodesk Factory Design Suite. Our internal design work for test cells, assembly stations and so forth is done in Pro/E, but I’m thinking that doesn’t translate to meaning Pro/E is necessarily the best tool for plant layouts. Autodesk FDS claims to directly open Pro/E models as a light weight representation, has an extensive library of assets, good visualization tools, and roots in architectural work (e.g. what a firm might use to design a new building for us). What are your thoughts? What are others using for this purpose?

thanks

Erik