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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 ...

Global competitive pressure is forcing companies to use resources efficiently, especially in high-wage countries. This is further intensified by market and legislative pressure for sustainable products and processes. In the face of digital and ecological change, holistic approaches to optimizing manual work processes are essential. An AI-supported assistance system for work plan creation is intended to remedy this and thus enable more efficient process design.

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 decarbonization of the energy sector is crucial for a climate-neutral EU, as a large proportion of greenhouse gas emissions come from energy use. Especially the wind energy sector, with its high material costs, faces major challenges. The rapid expansion of wind energy requires innovative solutions to establish sustainable End-of-Life (EoL) management practices. A digital decision-making framework for sustainable EoL strategies is therefore extremely useful.

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.