Industrie 4.0

I4S 1/2026: Applied AI Ethics in the Workplace

I4S 1/2026: Applied AI Ethics in the Workplace

A shared responsibility — from radiology and speech therapy to assembly
AI ethics in the workplace is everyone’s responsibility. It requires accountability from companies as a whole and conscious action from individuals—whether developers or users, managers or employees. Key issues revolve around ethical AI skills and questions of governance and employee representation. How will the world of work change, from radiology and speech therapy to assembly and quality control?
Derivation of MTM Analyses from Motion Capture Data

Derivation of MTM Analyses from Motion Capture Data

Evaluation of the procedure and comparison with a manual MTM analysis
Silas Pöttker ORCID Icon, Maria Neumann ORCID Icon, Martin Benter, Constantin Eckart ORCID Icon, Ulrike Wolf ORCID Icon, Peter Kuhlang, Hermann Lödding ORCID Icon
For around 15 years, German labor productivity per working hour has been increasing at significantly less than 1% per year. At the same time, more detailed productivity analyses reveal high potential in companies. The issue is that the required MTM analyses are complex and not yet employed as broadly and frequently as would be necessary. One solution is the use of digital technologies such as motion capture. These make it possible to carry out productivity analyses with little effort, as they provide data that accelerates the analysis. The MTMmotion® tool from the MTM ASSOCIATION e. V. was developed with the aim of carrying out valid and compliant MTM analyses using data provided by other technologies. This article compares the method developed for a motion capture system and MTMmotion® with a conventional MTM-1® analysis. The main result is that digital technologies can be used to create valid MTM analyses in early planning phases with little effort in order to make early ...
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 41 | 2025 | Edition 5 | Pages 112-119 | DOI 10.30844/I4SE.25.5.108
Enabler for the Digital Twin

Enabler for the Digital Twin

Requirements for Technical Documentation 4.0
Christian Koch, Lukas Schulte, René Wöstmann, Jochen Deuse ORCID Icon
The increasing heterogeneity and complexity of industrial plant components from different manufacturers make it difficult to handle technical documentation consistently. In addition, the flexibility required for system changes challenges the long-term usability and legally compliant design of this documentation throughout the entire life cycle of cyber-physical production systems. This article contributes to the discussion on Technical Documentation 4.0 by systematically analyzing existing specifications and approaches and by proposing a concept for a holistic documentation framework.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 41 | 2025 | Edition 4 | Pages 76-85
I4S 4/2025: Smart Logistics

I4S 4/2025: Smart Logistics

Sustainable, resilient processes along the entire value chain
Logistics is entering a new era. Climate change and geopolitical uncertainties are shifting the focus to resilience and sustainability. The concept of smart logistics is gaining importance. But what exactly makes logistics smart, and how can it help us organize our societies and the economy? Approaches such as predictive analytics, demand analysis, and machine learning show why smart logistics is more than just a technological trend.
Technologies for Assisting Manual Order Picking

Technologies for Assisting Manual Order Picking

From conventional pick-by systems to AI-driven manual picking assistance
Md Khalid Siddiqui ORCID Icon, Jonathan Kressel ORCID Icon, Jürgen Grinninger
Manual picking remains common due to the high initial cost of support systems. This paper reviews existing technologies, presents an exploratory vision-based prototype, and examines existing literature that explores how combining object detection with language systems could enhance manual workflows. The findings suggest a promising, low-cost direction for worker support in logistics.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 41 | Edition 4 | Pages 6-19 | DOI 10.30844/I4SE.25.4.6
Digital Twins for Production and Logistics Systems

Digital Twins for Production and Logistics Systems

Challenges and focus areas in implementation and use
Deike Gliem ORCID Icon, Nicolas Wittine ORCID Icon, Sigrid Wenzel ORCID Icon
For a successful implementation as well as sustainable use and maintenance of digital twins for production and logistics systems, it is necessary to identify relevant use cases and master the associated challenges. This paper analyzes scientific literature on common applications and challenges in the implementation of digital twins for the planning and operation of production and logistics systems. To confirm the practical relevance of the results, the results of an empirical survey have also been included. The findings are used to derive key focus areas for the successful implementation and long-term use of digital twins in production and logistics.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 41 | 2025 | Edition 3 | Pages 42-49 | DOI 10.30844/I4SE.25.3.42
Enabling the Future of Manufacturing with Digital Twins

Enabling the Future of Manufacturing with Digital Twins

Opportunities and obstacles
Javad Ghofrani, Darian Lemke, Tassilo Söldner
Digital twins connect physical and digital systems, furthering efficiency, enabling predictive maintenance, and allowing the production of more customized products. Despite these advantages, challenges such as high costs, data synchronization, and security risks hinder widespread adoption. This article explores the potential of digital twins and examines key barriers to integration and implementation, also considering some industrial applications including additive manufacturing as a relevant use case.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 41 | Edition 3 | Pages 72-81
Digital Supply Chain Twin: The Pathway to Success

Digital Supply Chain Twin: The Pathway to Success

A catalyst for increasing competitiveness
Gökhan Cenk ORCID Icon, Jonas Andersson, Tobias Engel ORCID Icon
Companies face a variety of challenges when optimizing global supply chains. Economic interests must be balanced with legal requirements, such as the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (SCDDA) and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). A digital supply chain twin (DSCT) enables the visualization of value creation networks and supports key business functions, such as purchasing, supply chain management, distribution, service, and sales. By leveraging immersive technologies, the DSCT helps generate sustainable competitive advantages across the entire supply network.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 41 | 2025 | Edition 3 | Pages 52-60 | DOI 10.30844/I4SE.25.3.52
I4S 3/2025: Digital Twin

I4S 3/2025: Digital Twin

Innovative concepts for manufacturing, logistics, and learning environments
In the connected world, digital twins open up completely new possibilities: they virtually replicate physical systems, processes, or products. However, key challenges remain, including the collection of current product data. This issue of Industry 4.0 Science covers a wide range of topics, from the basic concept of the digital twin to its benefits in procurement and its use in supply chain management.
Hybrid Learning Landscapes for Technical Concepts

Hybrid Learning Landscapes for Technical Concepts

The digitalization of training via practical concepts and targeted networking
Sebastian Anselmann ORCID Icon, Jessica Wädt, Uwe Faßhauer ORCID Icon
The Länder- und Phasenübergreifende Interface (LPI) (engl. Cross-Regional and Cross-Phase Interface) promotes the sustainable digitalization of vocational and technical education through the systematic provision of expertise and innovative networking formats. The focus is on hybrid learning landscapes (HLL), which interlink physical and digital learning spaces to create individualized, practical learning environments. Innovative approaches such as learning factories, VR/AR and learning analytics are integrated.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 41 | Edition 3 | Pages 126-132
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