Autor: Tobias Fischer

The age of globalisation is characterised by increased competition. An opportunity to succeed in the face of increasing competition lies in the digitisation of production companies. This article is dedicated to the design of a three-stage model platform of Industry 4.0, which focuses on the consistency of processes from the customer to the supplier at all company levels. The model platform is followed by an overview of the transformation steps for evaluating and shaping progress on the way to become a digitised production company.

The use of well-proven principles and methods of Lean Management in the IT departments of companies can be regarded as feasible and reasonable by now. But for the breadthways application there is a lack of a connection between Lean tools and the problems in modern IT departments. Within the scope of the analysis it can be shown that particular Lean methods can effectuate a positive outcome in precise fields of action, as well as certain IT subareas in whole can benefit from the use of established Lean methods.

Why Lean-Management is the solid basis for the fourth industrial revolution: The fourth industrial revolution seems to be the current issue number one. Apart from that well-known consultancies determine a not satisfactory level of implementation concerning Lean methods. The question rises to what extent the implementation of Lean Methods is useful for the introduction of industry 4.0 or if these methods can even be seen as a precondition. Therefore, all common Lean principles and methods were contrasted with the principles and technologies of the industry 4.0. In conclusion, Lean Management is a solid basis for the successful implementation of the fourth industrial revolution for the production of the future. Lean Management can finally be seen as the essential precondition.