Open Access Articles

The double transformation describes the necessary change in the economy in the dimensions of ecology and digitalization. Motion capture systems offer new possibilities for recording and analyzing work processes in industrial assembly. They visualize motion sequences with high frequency, precision and resolution. The question therefore arises as to how the technology can be used in the context of digital transformation to further develop the analysis of work processes and the design of workplaces. Our article discusses this on the basis of solution principles and describes implementation principles for the development of upcoming digital assistance systems.

The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) is constantly opening new opportunities, particularly in training for the factory of the future. For employees, this not only means a significant advantage in the actual manufacturing process, but also in the field of continuing education. This paper provides an overview of AI tutoring systems continuing education in the context of Industry 4.0 by presenting a categorization that discusses different approaches of AI tutoring systems by learning methods, application areas and their respective technologies. In addition, an outlook on the disruptive effect of generative AI on AI tutoring systems in Industry 4.0 is given.

Industry 4.0 requires new teaching content due to its innovation potential. Skills profiles currently in demand often aren't reflected in vocational and tertiary education. Additionally, conventional further education and training often costs considerably money and time. Tailor-made learning opportunities and teaching targeted problem-solving skills in a modular learning factory are a more effective approach.

Numerical simulation for the optimization of conventional manufacturing processes is common practice in industry, but isn’t yet fully developed for generative manufacturing processes. The simulation of powder bed fusion (PBF) especially, with their more than 130 influencing factors, poses major challenges. Nevertheless, the methods developed can substantially accelerate product development, as an examination of common procedures and innovative approaches shows.

In recent years, digital platforms have established themselves as a central concept in the IT field. Due to the wide variety of digital platforms available on the market, there is still a need for clear comparison with criteria to enable interested parties to select, change, operate and further develop these platforms. The following paper aims to contribute to the facilitation of this comparison by undertaking a systematic literature review of digital platform frameworks in the context of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT) for manufacturing companies and thus providing a basis for a number of potential ways to effectively compare current digital platforms and ecosystems.

With the advent of digitalization, prevailing paradigms – such as product centricity, face-to-face collaboration and hierarchical structures – are giving way to the vision of data-driven business models, digital, collaborative ecosystems and an agile, holacratic way of working in flat hierarchies and self-managing teams. Collaboration is made possible through the use of software solutions. In addition to adapted management concepts, the digital space also requires a digital cultural understanding on part of the companies involved. Lean empowerment is a pioneering approach to collaboration based on cultural values. In expert workshops, ideas were developed to explore how these values can be lived in a digital culture and thus in terms of global digital collaboration. This article presents concrete solutions from which requirements for digital collaboration and for implementation within IT structures and software solutions in particular can be derived.

Products cannot be included early enough in the planning of a circular manufacturing process. However, because early incorporation brings additional complexity into play, product decisions are often set aside for later manufacturing stages. At this point, a decision-making tool that systematically reduces complexity and generally simplifies the process is therefore of great value – especially if it can also be used as a source of inspiration and orientation aid in the innovation phase.

In this article, the potential risks in wire arc additive manufacturing are analyzed using failure mode and effects analysis. To achieve this, 186 possible causes of risk were analyzed and the five most critical risks were discussed in detail. Four significant risk factors were identified in the construction process. The fifth risk relates to the shielding gas flow. This is only one influencing factor among the welding parameters, which have strong interactions with each other. Therefore, their relationships should be analyzed on the basis of numerous tests.

For the transition to a sustainable economy to succeed in its entirety, logistics must be considered in addition to raw materials and manufactu­ring. Artificial intelligence will play a central role in improving the exchan­ge of data between the individual links in the supply chain and in regula­ting processes and costs at the various stages of production. The meat industry, with its hygienic and increasing ethical requirements for animal welfare, is set to greatly benefit from the digital revolution.

Companies with traditional working and manufacturing structures face the challenge of progressive digitalization and internationalization. In order to adapt, many companies aim to develop digital and agile working skills and competences. This paper describes the conception of a digital platform to promote agility in innovation of small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs) in structurally weak regions and to contribute to their innovativeness and future viability.