Management

The growing demand for battery cells offers significant potential for the use of digital solutions in their manufacture, which in turn creates opportunities for added value through adaptive and flexible production systems. A key enabler is interoperable data exchange based on formalized data descriptions. Existing ontologies and information models remain too abstract for direct implementation. This paper presents a requirements analysis of data standards in battery cell manufacturing. A procedure for developing domain-specific standards based on OPC UA (Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture) is derived from the results.

Predictive analytics opens up opportunities to improve decision-making in manifold areas, including in supply chain management (SCM). Yet, the complete realization of its potential requires the identification of the corresponding needs upfront. This paper provides a structured concept that guides through the complex and interdisciplinary endeavor of requirements analysis for predictive analytics in SCM. Due to the generic nature of this approach, it can be applied for any use case and be adapted or enhanced in case of need.

Transforming formats such as showrooms, laboratories or exhibitions into a virtual presence offers both opportunities and challenges. Particularly with cyber-physical systems (CPS), which rely heavily on user interaction, extensive adaptations must be made in order to maintain their purpose and function virtually. As part of this research project, digital solutions from different technologies and fields of application were transferred to a virtual exhibition. On this basis, the influence of the digital transformation on the interactivity and emulation of the solutions was analyzed. This article presents a framework that supports practitioners in the implementation of virtual representations.

Traditional budgeting often resembles a marathon full of spreadsheets, manual reconciliations and time-consuming data collection. However, modern companies need agile, data-driven solutions that allow for transparency, efficiency and strategic foresight. Digital technologies such as digital twins, dashboards and process mining initiate this possibility: they transform the budgeting process from a static set of figures to a dynamic, simulation-capable management tool. Instead of getting lost in detailed work, companies can use them to analyze processes in real time, simulate scenarios and make well-informed decisions.

Load carriers are essential for transporting manufactured parts in manufacturing companies. Despite their ‘simplicity’, they are usually expensive to purchase as they are manufactured expressly to fit purpose. While tracking methods such as GPS tracking can be used to prevent the loss of load carriers, this is associated with monitoring costs and presents challenges with regard to data protection as soon as the work performance of intralogistics employees is monitored. Assigning load carriers to designated clusters and monitoring these clusters provides an effective solution—without drawing conclusions about employee performance. Furthermore, artificial intelligence can optimize this approach whilst also deterring the theft of load carriers.

This study explores experience-based error management on the basis of 23 participating companies. This study aims to identify essential criteria for effective error management in production. For this purpose, a comprehensive questionnaire was created, featuring 77 questions across eight key topics, including error culture, documentation, root cause analysis and software-supported knowledge management. The following analysis highlights both positive and negative measures, providing specific recommendations to optimize experience-based error management.

Machine learning offers a wide range of potential, especially in production, and is therefore becoming increasingly important. However, small and medium-sized businesses are lacking guidelines that are specifically tailored to their individual challenges to guide them step-by-step through the process. In conjunction with a potential analysis, the determination of relevant prerequisites and a maturity assessment, this article can serve as a guide for SMEs.