Typeset

The use of LNG propulsion in ships has significant environmental benefits but also creates chal- lenges in handling. Due to safety regulations, the maintenance of the LNG ship systems requires a high degree of reliability and accuracy. Thus, this paper deals with the development and evaluation of an AR-assistance system. The system based on an Android smartphone enables users to access maintenance instructions and manuals and supports the work process step by step through context-sensitive virtualizations. Its evaluation was conducted as a combined quantitative and qualitative user study.

This paper focuses on the investigation of current technical challenges in the context of industrial Virtual Reality (VR)-based training applications. This paper analyzes the current state of the art of industrial VR applications and provides a structured overview of the existing technical challenges. The identified challenges are discussed based on an industrial training scenario for the safe handling of electrical components.

The market for technical services is currently undergoing a transformation that is having an impact on the business models and structures of companies in this market. This change also has consequences for the specialists at technical service providers: In addition to new technical knowledge, they have to communicate more with customers and partners in particular. These interactions are not always free of conflict and can become stressful for employees. The article shows examples of how technical service companies can improve the interaction situation of their employees with organizational measures.

Learning factories offer the possibility to plan, execute and analyze the knowledge imparted in theory on realistic industrial systems. This article analyzes the potential of developing and operating a learning factory in a virtual environment. For this purpose, institutions with learning factories are surveyed regarding the challenges and desires in the operation of learning factories and the mentioned aspects are discussed with regard to their representability in Virtual Reality. The result shows that Virtual Reality positively influences a large part of the aspects and has a high potential to solve current challenges in the establishment and operation of learning factories.

An important element for companies to deal with the demands of the world of work is the continuous and needs-specific further training of employees. The possibility of learning close to the workplace has a major role to play here.

Employees, machines and products get connected: the 4th Industrial Revolution has begun [1]. This is a central statement on the homepage of the German „Plattform Industrie 4.0“. Meanwhile the basic ideas started to move from the shopfloor level to the level of business processes and business models. In consequence it was detected pretty early, that digitization will affect the employees and their qualification and tasks in the companies; the term Work 4.0 evolved. The following contribution emphasizes the systematization of qualifications. A new model will be displayed, that helps to bring transparency to the distribution of qualification in companies. The useability of the model is verified in two case studies. The model is a practicable instrument for companies to gain a realistic view to the upcoming challenges of the shift of qualification due to digitization.

The authors present a methodological approach for designing assistance systems conducive to learning and derive requirements for their design. They base the design of these systems on a fundamental understanding of the cooperation between humans and machines, which still places decisions and responsibility with humans. Finally, the authors show concrete requirements and measures of a participatory design and implementation process.

Musculoskeletal disorders are the major cause of incapacity to work in the production industry in Germany. Accordingly, ergonomic work processes are particularly important in order to protect the health of employees and to reduce the high follow-up costs for companies and society. This article presents an approach that assesses and analyzes the individual worker capabilities and individual strain at the workplace with the help of modern motion capture systems. A learning assistance system uses the analysis results for ergonomic behavioral prevention in production.

In the digital transformation, managers are facing changed requirements. They are important actors in the design process of the digital transformation, for which they must change their leadership behavior and acquire the corresponding competencies. In corporate practice, it is necessary to address these issues systematically in leadership training. However, such a qualification is a major challenge for companies. The article shows demands on leadership in the digital transformation and presents an innovative procedure for the competence development of managers at a provider of professional training.

Assistance systems are being used increasingly in the context of digital transformation. They can support employees in industrial production processes both in the learning phase and in the active work phase. In this way, competencies can be built up in a way that is close to the workplace and the process as well as demand-oriented. This paper discusses the current state of research on the possible applications of these assistance systems and illustrates them with examples. Among other things, the current challenges are also highlighted. At the end of the paper, focal points for the future development of AI in industrial learning processes and research on this are identified.