Design

A decisive competitive factor for smaller and medium-sized manufacturers of one-of-a-kind and small batches is their products’ timely completion, delivery and commissioning. Precise logistics planning is just as important as production control. However, the processes are often characterized by uncertainties, e.g. due to local conditions at the customer or cooperation with suppliers. Digital shadows for data evaluation in real time offer a convincing solution.

Telepresence Robots (TPR) support the ongoing digital transformation in work and leisure amid climate and societal changes. This article presents two cases, one set in production and one in social participation, to illustrate users’ requirements, which largely coincide. Key requirements include audio and camera quality, a stable Wi-Fi connection, active and passive visual capabilities, and even floor covering.

Assistance systems improve work processes, shorten learning times and increase flexibility in the workplace. Human-centered, resilient and sustainable production approaches where user acceptance is of the utmost importance play a crucial role in the digitized Industry 5.0. Two user studies investigate how useful the support of technologies like augmented reality and AI chat actually is. In the context of cognitive assistance systems in intralogistics, artificial intelligence and augmented reality have a great potential and can contribute to an improvement in process performance. The usability of these systems in terms of human-centricity of Industry 5.0 is crucial. This article describes the results and findings of two user studies conducted in the laboratory for intralogistics work processes (picking and packing). The assistance systems used were evaluated using the System Usability Scale.   Cognitive assistance systems in intralogistics Assistance systems make a ...

EU regulations demand more intensive and transparent sustainable practices from companies. Industry needs to adapt many processes and products to take charge of this responsibility. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in particular offers innovative potential. Firstly, however, this technology needs to be evaluated focusing on weak AI—market-ready systems that perform specific tasks using algorithms and data-supported models efficiently.

The transformation in production offers the chance to redesign existing value chains. Cooperation between various ecological, social and governmental stakeholders is seen as particularly key to sustainable development. However, little research has been conducted into how companies can best manage the resulting interdependencies. Agriculture is used as an example to examine how businesses can activate resources along the value chain.

Advances in information and communication technology (ICT) are opening up new opportunities for virtual collaboration. Shared leadership is a promising modern concept for overcoming challenges in the areas of communication, knowledge sharing and company loyalty. Empirical findings on shared leadership in virtual teams can shape recommendations on how successful leadership can support the virtualization of teamwork.

Digital technologies are crucial for the competitiveness and innovative capacity of industry. While Industry 4.0 strives for greater efficiency through the intelligent networking of people, machines and information systems, the concept of Industry 5.0 focuses on people—and defines their well-being and identification capabilities as crucial to the success of digitalization. An analysis of their success factors can only help.

The EU Strategy for sustainable and circular textiles aims to reduce the industry’s environmental impact while at the same time increasing its competitiveness. In this transition towards circularity, firms in the highly fragmented textile value chains need solutions that help overcome barriers and provide support. This paper presents digital solutions that are particularly suited for SMEs and that have been developed with public funding. It aims at encouraging SMEs, not only from the textile industry, to specify their individual transition paths towards circularity and to use digitalization to foster implementation.

Although the concept of double transformation is being intensely discussed in companies, the practical implementation in operational structures often remains unclear. This article sheds light on how digital technologies and environmental sustainability strategies can be developed either synergistically, antagonistically or independently of each other. In addition, it discusses the different experiences of employees in different industries and the varying progress in the introduction of digital and ecological measures. To this end, it will discuss existing research findings and practical examples that pave the way for the successful integration of both transformation processes in companies.

The double transformation describes the necessary change in the economy in the dimensions of ecology and digitalization. Motion capture systems offer new possibilities for recording and analyzing work processes in industrial assembly. They visualize motion sequences with high frequency, precision and resolution. The question therefore arises as to how the technology can be used in the context of digital transformation to further develop the analysis of work processes and the design of workplaces. Our article discusses this on the basis of solution principles and describes implementation principles for the development of upcoming digital assistance systems.