Autor: Hanna Theuer

The positive benefits of decentralized decisionmaking structures in production systems were already discussed in the 1990s. But it is only in recent years that the technologies required for implementation have reached sufficient market maturity to be able to implement corresponding concepts efficiently. In this way, the units involved can be enabled to participate “intelligently” in processes by means of autonomous technologies. The question of the actors actively involved in decentralised decisionmaking and implementation as well as the concrete design of decentralised production structures is of great importance. This article illustrates the importance of autonomy for decentralised production control and shows which performance actors involved in the process have the necessary capabilities to act autonomously.

Industry 4.0 gain in importance in recent years. Research and business realize increasingly that targeted activities in this area are necessary to preserve the market power of the industry. This article provides a summary of Industry 4.0 initiatives in ten European countries as well as their comparison based on different criteria.

In the research project LUPO a hybrid simulation laboratory is build up. This combines the advantages of the computer simulation with those of a model factory. For the systematic recording, mapping and analysis of various production processes a procedure model has been created that responds to the special requirements (quick, flexible, effortless determination of informative results) of the project. A library of production objects facilitates the reutilisa tion of existing machines and hereby a reduction of simulation effort.

In a world of steady change, manufacturing companies face major challenges. They have to react quickly to an increasing competition and more and more individual customer requests. New technologies and organisational structures like RFID or decentralised and real-time based production control can deal with this issue successfully. The specific realization of selection and analysis of each production process of the company often approves to be difficult and cost intensive. Previous simulation approaches are frequently combined with high efforts in order to state credible propositions regarding suitability and economic efficiency. The present paper shows a new opportunity towards managing these disadvantages. Additionally, the advantages are combined with computer-based simulations of the model factory. A fast and flexible illustration of the analysed production processes is achieved.