Automation

Robot-Based Assembly Automation in Mid-Sized Companies

Robot-Based Assembly Automation in Mid-Sized Companies

Obstacles, drivers and implications
Aaron Zinßer, Fabian Diefenbach ORCID Icon, Arik Lämmle ORCID Icon
Production automation is well established in large companies for high volume products. But robot-based assembly automation in mid-sized companies is still in its infancy. This study uses results from 19 expert interviews and a survey to identify obstacles to and drivers of automation in this field. Among the obstacles is the low flexibility of the robotic systems. One driver for automation is the increasing shortage of skilled workers. Based on the empirical findings, the study proposes options to increase the use of automation.
Industrie 4.0 Management | Volume 39 | 2023 | Edition 4 | Pages 21-24 | DOI 10.30844/IM_23-4_21-24
Focus on Employees

Focus on Employees

Clear rules and processes as the basis for independent ordering of indirect requirements
Michael Petri
eProcurement systems enable employees to handle the purchase of C-parts and indirect requirements independently with a minimum of work. This article explains how this can free up space for the strategically decisive procurement of A and B parts. The basic idea is to outsource the operative procurement activity to those who have the demand - so-called demand carriers. Decisive for the success of this approach is the right mix of individual freedom and sufficient control. Here, eProcurement solutions offer various levers that the purchasing department can configure according to the respective company situation. (Only in German)
Industrie 4.0 Management | Volume 39 | 2023 | Edition 3 | Pages 60-61
Sustainable and Intelligent Additive Manufacturing

Sustainable and Intelligent Additive Manufacturing

Early Recognition of Manufacturing Defects in 3D-Printing with Artificial Intelligence
Kai Scherer ORCID Icon, Sebastian Bast ORCID Icon, Julien Murach, Stephan Didas, Guido Dartmann, Michael Wahl
Additive manufacturing is an increasingly important manufacturing technology with huge economical potential. However, its popularity is accompanied by high material and time losses, as defects are often detected at a very late stage. One solution for a more sustainable production is the automated detection of manufacturing defects using artificial intelligence. This article describes the digitization of the defect detection process in additive manufacturing using a system based on a neural network. In addition to the steps for automated defect detection, system performance is also discussed.
Industrie 4.0 Management | Volume 39 | 2023 | Edition 2 | Pages 56-59
My Colleague Is a Robot

My Colleague Is a Robot

Acceptance of collaborative robotics in warehouses
Frederic Jacob, Eric Grosse ORCID Icon, Stefan Morana, Cornelius J. König
Warehousing is a very labor- and cost-intensive task in many companies. Digitization and automation of manual warehouse processes can increase efficiency, reduce costs and relieve employees. Collaborative robots that share work tasks with employees are increasingly used in warehouses. However, the pure techno-centric use of such robots can negatively influence the acceptance of human-robot collaboration. Various influences such as fear of job loss, higher cognitive stress, expected extra effort, or concerns about injuries can hinder human-robot collaboration and negatively impact economic benefits. This paper presents possible barriers to the acceptance of collaborative robotics in warehouses and discusses recommended actions for human-centered, sustainable human-robot collaboration.
Industrie 4.0 Management | Volume 39 | 2023 | Edition 1 | Pages 23-26
Automate Processes Strategically Instead of Selectively

Automate Processes Strategically Instead of Selectively

How and why a Center of Automation ignites the digitization booster—not only in related fields
Steffen Weiers
Many departments have already recognized the enormous increase in efficiency and personnel relief from routine activities through process automation. These digital thought leaders have begun to automate office processes using new technologies such as Robotic Process Automation (RPA), low code in the Microsoft Power Platform or in SAP. However, the positive experiences often remain in individual departments. Due to the lack of a strategic superstructure, companies as a whole have not yet succeeded in systematically transferring the added values to all areas. The organizational solution for this is called a "Center of Automation". Sometimes it is enough for the team to consist of two members to bring an overarching, digital process mindset into a company. (Only in German)
Industrie 4.0 Management | Volume 39 | 2023 | Edition 1 | Pages 58-62
Why AI Relies on Data

Why AI Relies on Data

Uwe Müller
Artificial intelligence has the potential to bring companies and entire industries to a completely new technological level. The prerequisite is data with a high degree of maturity, with which companies can automate complex processes, calculate forecasts or create analyses. With the right data strategy, structuring and achieving the necessary data quality are no longer dreams of the future.
Industrie 4.0 Management | Volume 39 | 2023 | Edition 1 | Pages 63-66
Artificial Intelligence in ERP Systems

Artificial Intelligence in ERP Systems

Development potential and benchmarking
Marcus Grum ORCID Icon, Nicolas Korjahn
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming more important for a variety of industries, which is why enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems also offer many possible uses of AI. Due to their newly acquired, AI-based adaptability and learning abilities, modern AI-integrated ERP systems are able to develop competencies, plan processes, make forecasts and interact intelligently with humans. It is not uncommon for such systems to initiate major structural changes for companies and to open up new markets and design areas [1]. In order to measure the progress of an ERP system in terms of AI, the Center for Enterprise Research (CER) has developed an AI maturity model. Building on this model, a tool for evaluating AI integration in an ERP system should be able to showcase potential for development and enable market comparison.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 39 | 2023 | Edition 1 | Pages 100-105 | DOI 10.30844/I4SE.23.1.100
Information Exchange in the Maritime Supply Chain

Information Exchange in the Maritime Supply Chain

Johannes Schnelle ORCID Icon, Wolfgang Kersten ORCID Icon
Blockchain is seen as an enabler to increase the efficiency, transparency, and security of information exchange in supply chains. An important application area is maritime logistics, as blockchain facilitates the digitalization of documents and increases the efficiency of the processes. In this article, we elaborate on the example of temperature-controlled container transports the potential for adopting blockchain and the requirements to be considered from the technological and organizational environment.
Industrie 4.0 Management | Volume 38 | 2022 | Edition 6 | Pages 29-32 | DOI 10.30844/IM_22-6_29-32
Automated Assembly of Large-Scale Water Electrolyzers

Automated Assembly of Large-Scale Water Electrolyzers

Digitale Montageplanung für eine nachhaltige Wasserstoffwirtschaft auf Grundlage von Produkt, Prozess und Ressource
Patrick Adler, Daniel Syniawa ORCID Icon, Malte Jakschik, Lukas Christ, Alfred Hypki, Bernd Kuhlenkötter ORCID Icon
A key element of the energy transition in Germany lies in green hydrogen. The current production of electrolyzers is mostly done in a manufactory-like manner. By digital planning and preparing an assembly with automated, manual and collaborative elements, the manufacturing of water electrolyzers can be scaled economically. In this paper, a reference process from electrolyzer assembly is selected and analyzed for the complete mapping of a data structure. The determined data structure can be used as a basis for a digital twin.
Industrie 4.0 Management | Volume 38 | 2022 | Edition 5 | Pages 12-16 | DOI 10.30844/IM_22-5_12-16
Technology Accep­tance of Robotic Process Automation

Technology Accep­tance of Robotic Process Automation

An empirical analysis
Jörg von Garrel, Jonas Geist
Based on theoretical-empirical findings presented in the article "Technology Acceptance of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) (Part 1)", this article presents the results of an empirical study on the acceptance of robotic process automation (RPA) using structural equation modeling. This survey was conducted in a finance department of the business unit "Smart Infrastructure - Digital Grid" of a global technology company distributed throughout Germany.
Industrie 4.0 Management | Volume 38 | 2022 | Edition 5 | Pages 40-44
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