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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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

Initiated by the digitalization, the organization of production and employees are subject to change. Innovative and digitized formats should be integrated into existing training programs. Therefore, suitable and target group-specific teaching/learning formats are needed that support participative methods and digital collaboration. For this purpose, a digital teaching and learning format for the application area of automotive engineering in SMEs was designed. This prototypical teaching/learning format was created and evaluated in an iterative process through the participation of the potential. The results show that the test subjects mainly refer to the usability criteria of DIN ISO 9241-110. Recommendations for the creation of future digital teaching and learning formats for SMEs are derived from these findings.

Reducing CO2 emissions to lower the global warming impact and protect the environment is a central objective of environmental policy. Climate neutrality shall be achieved by 2045 and a cross-sectoral reduction of greenhouse gases is only possible if fossil energy can be replaced by a sustainable alternative. In this context, green hydrogen and its derivatives have a high potential and could contribute to a more sustainable future. The city of Bremerhaven has recognized the potential of hydrogen and is currently establishing itself as a test region for hydrogen production and mobile applications.

The article addresses the digital transformation in international corporations. Using the example of the MANN+HUMMEL group, it will be shown how the digital maturity level can be measured in a group with several production locations and how the transformation process can be simplified and accelerated by identifying and using group-wide best practice solutions.

The main goal of assembling a self-sufficient microgrid is to integrate all technical equipment into an autonomous energy supply system as a virtual power plant (VPP). The system integration focuses on the power electronic devices and the combination of gas and electrical supply chains. The developed microgrid structure is fed from renewable energy systems (green hydrogen), the electrical grid and the H2 gas grid with a liquid or gaseous energy source. In comparison to an island grid, the microgrid can be operated in parallel mode with the common public grid. The associated challenges of transient energy flows and the holistic view of a regulated microgrid based on an electrical grid and an H2 gas network are part of this article.