Autor: Bernd Scholz-Reiter

The Autonomous Logistic Engineering Methodology (ALEM), which is developed within the Collaborative Research Center 637, provides several tools for creating models of autonomously controlled logistic systems. To evaluate such models, the ALEM framework is extended to include a simulation component. As the ALEM Models cannot run directly within simulation software, they are transformed using principles of the Model Driven Architecture. To enable the transformation several open source tools can be applied. This article evaluates a selection of such tools with the aim of integrating them into ALEM.

Due to the increasing miniaturization in all areas, mechanical manufacturing processes of micro-components become more important. The combination of high production cycles and low manu-facturing tolerances in the micrometer range requires a comprehensive quality management, which seeks efficient processes with low quality costs. Because of the small component sizes and the difficulties associated with the handling process, the classic visual inspection retires as testing procedure. In combination with a customized micro-manufacturing surface metrology, an efficient image processing system is needed to identify surface imperfections such as cracks, dents and scratches. This paper presents different standards and applications on the basis of quality management that affect the surface inspection of micro components. By reference to a micro-thermoformed component from the Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 747, the prototypical implementation of an automated image processing system is ...

Dynamics and complexity of today`s production systems bring established approaches for production planning and control to their limits. Accordingly, developing new concepts and methods is a key point for research in this area. The combination of a decentralized control structure and innovative methods from the field of artificial intelligence seems promising here. Open source tools have proven their applicability to implement those methods. They are disposable and can be flexibly adapted to many problems. This contribution introduces an approach for the decentralized control of a shop floor. Here, artificial neuronal networks are used as adaptive control instruments. The simulation of these networks is performed with the open source tool Stuttgart Neural Network Simulator (SNNS) and its successor Java Neural Network Simulator (JNNS).

Today`s complex and dynamic logistic processes are largely addicted to the efficient management of relevant information. Integrated into centralised planning and control structures, the flow and management of information is mostly handled in separate processes or sub processes. This proceeding results in an additional effort for the information processing and in corresponding delays during the process execution. This is especially the case for mobile work processes. Wearable computing systems offer the possibility to use modern information and communication technologies for a direct integration of the information processing and information management into the mobile work process. In this way the mobile user is discharged and able to concentrate on his logistical main task.

So-called chaotic storages get increasingly important in commercial use. Their high dynamics and resulting uncertainty about storage levels result in high requirements on logistic processes. The project presented in this paper combines methods to meet these requirements by the use of an autonomous stocktaking robot. It uses approaches from the field of cognitive inspired Artificial Intelligence, enabling the robot to act purposefully in an unknown environment. Even if the environment is constantly changing, the robot is able to acquire robust information about the current state of e.g., storage areas, their position and goods stored in them. The information gathered is of coarse granularity but is still be a valuable basis for the analysis and optimisation of intra-logistic pro-cesses.

The cooperation between BLG LOGISTICS GROUP and the UNIVERSITY of BREMEN by the topic self-motoring in logistics exists since the composition of the collaborative research centre 637 “autonomous cooperating logistic processes - a paradigm shift and its limitations”. This research centre was founded by the “Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)” in 2004. Since then the BLG provides the research case studies and real data from the industry. This builds the basis of the research analysis in the form of autonomous cooperating processes and simulation studies and allows the verification and evaluation of the complied work results. On the other hand are the results of the collaborative research centre 637 case studies very important for the development of the processes at the BLG. This article presents the contemporary issue of autonomous control, the insight of projects between BLG and Bremer Institut für Produktion und Logistik GmbH (BIBA) and moreover a future scenario of ...

Global supply chains source raw material around the world, make use of local cost advantages for production and utilise the expertise of excellent partners. They aim at the creation of a sustainable competitive network. In order to benefit from the locally obtained advantages the processes of the partners have to be synchronised. This is a classic task of advanced planning systems. However operational planning and control is quite often conducted in a decentralised, function and department oriented way. This paper presents a framework for an integrated scheduling of production and transportation systems along a global supply chain on the operational level. The framework enhances the synchronisation of material flows and increases the competitiveness of the supply chain.

Advancements in the automation of technical systems enable the simultaneous accomplishment of multiple complex functions. Through further integration of information and communication technologies, systems will be able to communicate among each other and autonomously adapt their behaviour to changes in the environment. For the realisation of logistic functions, autonomous robots are promising systems. For the development and prototypal testing of such robots the automobile terminal was chosen due to its specific attributes and challenges. This article introduces an approach for the combination of security services and continuous inventory by means of autonomous and cooperating robots. To enhance the efficiency of automobile terminals, innovative information and communication technologies are implemented and robust autonomous robots developed.

Throughout the whole lifecycle, maintenance activities generally have to be fulfilled regarding technical systems. In logistics networks the creation of value at the nodes by means of rapid turnover is important, so that the availability of the production factor “machine” is essential. The increase in efficiency of support processes encompasses among others the maintenance of machines and installations. Within the paper, a procedure model with case study is presented, which illustrates the change-over to a condition-based maintenance strategy in the seaport surrounding.

Job-shop-productions are facing high requirements due to the high diversity of manufactured products, changing lot-sizes and strongly cross-linked material flows. This situation is intensified by dynamic effects which are caused by non-linear dependences between the system’s parameters. The complex dynamics can affect the logistic performance of the system by varying stock-levels, rising cycle times or decreasing capacity utilisation. This paper describes an approach to analyse the effects of the factory planning process on the system’s dynamics, whereat the focus will be on the planning subtasks of dimensioning and structuring. This is expected to improve methods of design for job-shop-productions.