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Companies with traditional working and manufacturing structures face the challenge of progressive digitalization and internationalization. In order to adapt, many companies aim to develop digital and agile working skills and competences. This paper describes the conception of a digital platform to promote agility in innovation of small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs) in structurally weak regions and to contribute to their innovativeness and future viability.

Digital transformation is a crucial factor for the competitiveness of companies. This article explores obstacles and their interrelationships in establishing digital business models in medium-sized family businesses as well as initial approaches to overcoming these obstacles.

The topic of Openness is of growing importance for industry, especially in Europe. However, the term Openness is used very differently. Openness includes several concepts, including Open Source Hardware, Open Source Software, Open Data, Open Standards, Open Innovation, Open Science and Open Education. The concepts address different dimensions of Openness, all based on some kind of participation and with the goal to create more transparency and accessibility. This article defines the concepts and provides a basic understanding of their importance for industry and for greater sustainability.

Production simulations involve considerable effort, among other things, due to the knowledge transfer between the domain expert and the simulation specialist. For small and medium-sized companies, this often represents an economic hurdle in the use of simulation. In this article, a method for a software- supported cooperation between the production expert and the simulation specialist is presented, which leads to a considerable reduction in effort. This means that the advantages of simulation can be used economically even with low optimization potentials.

The development of textile products is associated with high material, time, personnel and cost expenditure. The paper describes the digital twinning for materials and processes and their application in a digital product development process, which can accelerate the ramp-up phase and thus reduce development costs by up to 60%.

Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) is an additive manufacturing process which produces metallic components on the basis of arc welding. ISO/ASTM 52900 describes additive manufacturing as a process that creates components layer by layer from 3D model data. The basic equipment required includes a welding device, introducing the energy necessary for melting the metal wire, and a guiding machine, which traces the specified geometry of the component. Applications for WAAM include rapid prototyping and tooling, direct manufacturing and additive repair. The greatest advantages the process offers are low-cost system technology and a high deposition rate. The disadvantages of the process are the lack of process stability and exact repeatability. This article is intended to provide a clear overview of the WAAM manufacturing process, and to address its complex interactions.