Design

With its ability to integrate digital information into the real world, augmented reality (AR) is increasingly becoming a critical success factor when it comes to safe, efficient and human-centered manufacturing. However, the implementation of an AR project poses various challenges that can hinder its ability to succeed. A clear sequence of steps for implementing this technology is therefore essential.

Platforms and business models based on them have been around for many years. However, the rapid development of information technology in recent years has greatly reduced the need for physical assets and infrastructure to enable value creation. Digitalization enables highly efficient interactions among platform participants. This lowers the barriers to accessing tangible and intangible goods, which in turn opens up opportunities to develop instruments that improve the sustainability of platform results.

The complex dynamics of block warehouses pose major challenges to the manual stocktaking process. Frequent relocation of pallets, crates or pallet cages without fixed storage locations leads to a time-consuming and error-prone inventory process, wherein goods often have to be searched for and damages due to improper storage can occur. The use of (semi-)autonomous drones offers a promising solution to enable automated stocktaking, especially if these are appropriately equipped for optical goods detection.

Facility managers for industrial properties are faced with the challenge of optimizing the energy efficiency of their facilities in the face of ever-increasing energy demand and rising energy costs. Digital processes that enable the comprehensive monitoring, analysis and control of energy demand offer an effective way to reduce costs, increase energy efficiency and make optimal use of resources. Based on IoT technologies and open-source software, a cost-effective, wireless and flexible retrofit solution for real-time energy data collection has been developed.

Motion-Mining® is a technology that uses motion sensors and pattern recognition to enable automated process mapping and analysis of manual work. This article evaluates the advantages and limitations of its use in manufacturing and logistics processes. To this end, Motion-Mining® is compared with traditional lean management tools used to analyze manual activities. Experiences derived from four use cases provide decision support for selecting the appropriate method for a specific use case.

The decentralized data ecosystem Gaia-X, which is currently under development, supports the future viability of the digital data economy in Europe. But how can relevant use cases be realized in Gaia-X from a service-oriented perspective? To answer this question, this article presents a methodology that describes a structured and interdisciplinary approach to service development in the ongoing Gaia-X 4 ROMS consortium research project [1]. In this project, federated services are realized in five processing steps on the basis of use cases. IT experts, software developers and industry users can leverage the model to efficiently coordinate the joint realization of use cases with Gaia-X and the goal of sovereign data exchange.

The flow of materials along regional and global value chains has far-reaching environmental, economic and social effects. The sustainability profile of materials should therefore play a central role in management. Adapting material flows to adhere to sustainable principles requires an integrated approach that includes all areas of the company. The decisive factor is that sustainable materials management ultimately requires the entire life cycle of a product to be taken into account – from design and produc- tion through to sales and aftercare measures.

In additive manufacturing – which is also known as 3D printing – plastic waste is produced, for example in the form of required support structures or faulty prints. One option for resource recirculation in additive manufacturing is direct use in a pellet 3D printer that incorporates fused granulate fabrication (FGF). The elimination of the filament production process step reduces the manufacturing time and the energy required for recirculation.

Small batch sizes are a necessity in the textile industry due to the increasing diversification of products and end applications as well as short-term orders in networked value chains. At the same time, this involves a high level of configuration, planning, preparation and im-plementation. The costs increase disproportionately and are usually not directly quantifia-ble. In addition, sustainability considerations are now increasingly required. This article de-scribes an SME-suitable, simulation-based methodology for analyzing and configuring tex-tile manufacturing systems with regard to ecological and economic sustainability for small batch sizes in textile manufacturing and illustrates this using textile manufacturing in the weaving industry as an example.

The circular economy (CE) promises a more sustainable use of resources by managing products in a cycle and striving for a transformation from a linear to a circular supply chain. In particular, digital technologies as enablers for the circular economy have been increasingly researched and applied in practice in recent years. This article describes which digital technologies offer potential for increasing circularity in the production of circular photovoltaic (PV) systems.