Innovation

The most important value-adding industrial business processes are product creation and order processing. For 40 years now, Industry 4.0 Science and its predecessor titles have supported the development and implementation of the software used in these industrial business processes. In honor of the journal’s 40th anniversary, a systematic literature review is carried out to identify trends that played a role in the past but no longer do today. The research provides some surprising insights into the topics that have been important in the last 40 years – as well as those that will remain relevant in the future.

Artificial intelligence is often mentioned often mentioned in the same context as Industry 4.0, but the exact role of AI is unclear. Is AI just another 4IR technology or an essential "enabler" for other 4IR technologies? Six experts assess the impact of AI on 41 4IR technologies. AI could indeed be a decisive factor in unleashing the full potential of Industry 4.0.

The rapid development of generative artificial intelligence is opening up new avenues for the manufacturing industry amid a shortage of skilled workers. Large language models can potentially make production processes in medium- sized businesses more efficient. But how exactly is this potential measured? Key areas of application such as communication, training and knowledge management show why a lot depends on employee acceptance.

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 ...

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.