Germany is one of the world’s leading manufacturing nations. The mechanical and plant engineering, electrical engineering, and automotive industries in particular stand out for their high capacity for innovation, quality, and flexibility. With the arrival of new information and communication technology and the Internet of Things, production is being taken to a new level, referred to as “Industry 4.0.” “Autonomous objects, mobile communication, and real-time sensor technology enable new paradigms of decentralized control and ad hoc design of processes,” says Univ. Prof. Dr. -Ing. Dr. -Ing. E.h. Dr. h. c. Dieter Spath, head of Fraunhofer IAO, in the study “Produktionsarbeit der Zukunft – Industrie 4.0” [in German]. Published at the end of June 2013, it surveyed companies from these industries across Germany on how production work is developing. In addition, experts shared their assessments of the future of production work in in-depth interviews. The focus was on how production work is evolving with regard to the use of mobile devices, cyber-physical systems (CPS), and social media, as well as the impact of greater flexibility in production. The aim of the study was to lay the groundwork for actively shaping the fourth industrial revolution and to support companies on their way to “Industry 4.0.”
The kick-off event on July 2, 2013, at IAO’s Haus des Wissens in Stuttgart showed that industry has no shortage of interest and attention. More than 80 participants, including the Schaltzeit crew, came to learn about and discuss the term “Industry 4.0.” After all, only by engaging with this topic and the industrial change that comes with it can the competitiveness of products – and thus Germany as a manufacturing location – be secured in the future.
Based on the results of the study and the kick-off event, Fraunhofer IAO is now forming the “Innovationsnetzwerk Produktionsarbeit 4.0” (Production Work 4.0 Innovation Network). The goal is to jointly discuss questions, develop approaches, create future scenarios, and build concrete applications.
On behalf of the Fraunhofer IAO research group, Schaltzeit has already co-developed the Industry 4.0 application KapaflexCy, which is used for self-organized capacity management – “smartphone instead of time clock” is the motto. In addition, Schaltzeit has now also supported the study on “Produktionsarbeit der Zukunft – Industrie 4.0” with success. This topic will stay with us, and we will stay with it – things remain exciting.
Further links:
http://www.produktionsarbeit.de/
Image: © industrieblick (fotolia.com), wickedpix (istockphoto.com), Dmitry Kalinovsky, Baloncici (shutterstock.com)
