Potenzial: Globalization

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.

The blockage of the Suez Canal in 2021, caused by the accident involving the container ship Ever Given, clearly illustrates the need to design global supply chains in such a way that they can respond quickly to disruptions. In a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environment, conventional logistics processes that focus on efficiency, and supply chain management methods in particular, are increasingly reaching their limits. Resilience, achieved through a combination of robustness and agility, is essential to ensure responsiveness. This article analyzes how risk management information systems (RMIS) can increase resilience. The analysis covers data availability, data transparency, modeling and simulation of risk scenarios, and the development of appropriate emergency action plans. Despite existing challenges in designing IT infrastructure, the measures mentioned have the potential to increase resilience in logistics.

Manufacturing companies incorporate reverse logistics as a building block of the circular economy for greater sustainability. Case studies show that this can result in strategic opportunities. This article summarizes an analysis of expert interviews on the increase in supply chain resilience attributed to reverse logistics. Potential benefits are highlighted, and companies are encouraged to examine the approach and implement innovative solutions. The result is a hypothesis-based value model that serves as an orientation aid for decision-makers.

In recent years, the potential of B2B cloud manufacturing has developed steadily. Through the use of digital platforms, companies can expand their business models and open up new business areas, which is of decisive economic importance, especially during a pandemic. The potentials of production platforms were examined in a company study to derive recommendations for actions for companies. The study shows that the interest for a platform participation on the supply side is higher than on the demand side.

Due to COVID-19 the production lines of the German automotive manufacturers were stopped for an average of 30 days. Even allegations of exhaust manipulation, the required structural change in the direction of electro mobility as well as stricter CO2 regulations are representatives for risks that impact automotive value chains. In order to encounter such risks in an entrepreneurial manner, cooperative, integrative and analytical skills are required, which are brought together in a mature risk management model. While automotive manufacturers and suppliers are in the scientific and public focus of such risks less attention is paid to the risk management of directly affected contract logistics service providers in this industry. In this article a risk management model for contract logistics service providers in the automotive sector is developed that leads to elaborated risk mitigation strategies. A differentiation of risks should take place on three levels by not only company-internal ...

The question of how horizontal collaboration can be achieved in the Physical Internet is so far unanswered. The advantages of collaboration do not seem to outweigh the concerns about trust and data security, which is why only a few companies focus on joint logistics activities. Instead, logistics processes are increasingly in-sourced. However, even such internalization raises questions regarding free market structures. This paper provides an overview of horizontal collaboration in logistics and to what extent in-sourcing of logistics processes might be the easier solution to implement the Physical Internet.

The manufacturing of eyeglasses is a great example of customized mass production. Its globalization results in high data and product traffic, which can only be economical if the process allows a 100 % first time lens-frame fit. TH Köln developed a machine which prints viscoelastic polymer structures on machined glass edges. This method allows a five times lower accuracy in manufacturing and improves results in mechanical tension, optics and lens fit. It has shown to be highly successful with great potential in additional sectors.