Autor: Dennis Lappe

Companies have to cope with an individualization of products. Consequently, they are confronted with an increasing cost pressure and thus, they require optimal manufacturing processes. A possible approach is to share manufacturing resources with other companies to maximize the utilization of these resources. This paper describes possible perspectives of resource sharing for companies by using an analogy between the Web 2.0-based Share Economy and resource sharing of tomorrow’s production based on Industry 4.0.

Nowadays, a well-designed capacity supply is essential for a company’s competitiveness. In this situation, a flexible and efficient capacity control is among the most important measures. In this paper, we presented the potential of reconfigurable machine tools. Based on this, we described the concept of the throughput time harmonizing capacity control. Moreover, we evaluated the theoretical potential of this capacity control approach in a simulation experiment. In further steps, we will analyze the total potential in different simulation studies.

Along with increasing complexity and dynamics the importance of cyber-physical systems in production and logistics also increases. Hence, the BIBA - Bremer Institut für Produktion und Logistik GmbH at the University of Bremen considers the application of cyber-physical systems in logistics. This paper presents the approach for the development of a cyber-physical logistics system. To start we describe the fundamental terms cyber-physical system and cyber-physical production system. Following these definitions we explain the term cyber-physical logistics system. Afterwards we describe the course of action; in particular necessary steps within the development of a cyber-physical logistics system are explained. In detail we present the procedure consisting of requirements analysis, conception and simulation-based evaluation.

Quality assurances in the automotive industry pose additional processing times which are highly fluctuating and difficult to calculate. Within the rework processes the registration of vehicle positions is done manually. As a result the available information is not continuous and sufficient for an efficient control of these processes. Radio frequency identification (RFID) based positioning systems are one possibility to track the vehicles in the rework process automatically and to provide the required information. This paper presents the potential of a RFID-based positioning system in the rework area as well as examples for technical realization.

During the last decades, automotive manufacturers have outsourced many processes. Hence, complex networks consisting of automotive manufacturers, suppliers and logistics service providers have grown in the automotive industry. The resulting transports of components in these networks often require special load carriers. Consequently, companies nowadays face the challenge to handle a growing number of load carriers. For improving the load carrier management a higher transparency is required regarding the load carriers in the whole network. Transparency can be assured by the application of radio frequency identification technology. However, especially logistics service providers have to invest in this technology, which can be implemented in different ways. In this paper, some application possibilities are described and analyzed regarding economic and energy efficiency.

Wearable computing systems allow the support of workers in ongoing processes of automotive logistics. In a previous research project a wearable computing system, which is called easyTracing System, was developed. To this date, the easyTracing System is not technically mature because of the following reasons: First of all, the system was just tested in a laboratory. Hence, field tests are necessary, for example respective robustness. Besides, for supporting workers an efficient method for process controlling has to be developed. Both to make the technology of the easyTracing System workable and to develop an efficient method for process controlling are objects of research. This paper presents an approach for both development projects with the characteristic of a simultaneous processing.

The investigation of dynamical properties considering job shop systems often employs discrete-event simulation. How-ever, to apply advanced analysis methods like Fourier and correlation analysis to the temporal evolution of important variables, time series are required, which comprise data taken in equally measured timesteps. Therefore sampling is applied. This paper investigates the definition of an optimal sampling rate, which ensures high quality data at a minimum of sampling efforts. Furthermore, errors occurring due to deviating sampling rates are investigated and summed up in qualitative error curves.

Nowadays, every partner in a global supply chain storages the logged information central. Due to the increasing complexity in supply chains, the central storage of information doesn’t fulfill the high requirements. Therefore it is essential to get a more transparent supply chain by exchanging important information. On the one hand, a technical part for exchanging information is needed and on the other hand, a standardization of which information should be exchanged is necessary. This paper presents a framework for the information management of global supply chains at the example of automotive logistics. The framework describes which information and where this information should be exchanged in a supply chain.

Due to the increased product miniaturization, a number of new applications and market opportunities open up for mechanical micro-manufacturing. In the manufacturing process with part dimensions less than one millimeter and tolerances in the micrometer range occur so-called “size effects”. These prevent a simple scaling of processes known methods from the macro level and lead to an increased occurrence of quality deviations. In conclusion, the process capability according to ISO 21747 is affected and therefore the application of statistical process control (SPC) is more difficult. In this paper, the interaction between technical and logistical quality objectives in terms of logistical quality control are analyzed at the example of micro cold forming. Thereby, methods of statistical process control and fuzzy control are used.