Industry 4.0

The Industrial Data Space enables business based on networked data and data sovereignty at the same time. The technological solution and the certification scheme of the Industrial Data Space ensures secure access to data which companies usually do not dare to share today. This gives new opportunities and provides new data-driven business models. The Industrial Data Space® initiative consists of a research project owned by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and the Industrial Date Space Association.

Due to a lack of energy consumption transparency, manufacturing companies are struggling to identify the energetic cost drivers within a factory. Energy transparency can be reached through the aid of suitable measuring technologies. However, the gained transparency must be used intelligently to obtain economic benefits. One possible solution is the use of modern information technologies that are provided by the Industry 4.0. Maximum synergies can only be achieved through a holistic implementation of Industry 4.0, by taking the business model, the operational processes, the technology and the employees into account. A corresponding strategy for the implementation of Industry 4.0 in the context of energy transparency is introduced in this article.

Digitization opens extensive opportunities to gather real time information, exchange them and use them for a variety of different purposes. In industry, the related developments are referred to as the transition to Industry 4.0. They relate to the workplace design as well as to the alignment of business strategies and the underlying business models.

In the context of Industry 4.0 the change and digitalisation of technical information move more closely in the focus of research. During the whole life cycle of a product, relevant information arises, that has to be stored appropriately. Future industrial applications require adaptive information management, e.g., individual and appropriate delivery of data, connection of information, target-oriented search or visualisation of information. The focus of this contribution is on challenges of the digitalization of technical documentations with respect to Industry 4.0 paradigms. The handling of the technical documentation over the complete lifecycle of a product is discussed.

The developed Readiness Model supports enterprises to determine the current state in relation to Industry 4.0 as well as the target state. Based on strategy improvement measures are derived to succeed in attaining the target Industry 4.0 state. Enterprises profit by individualized understanding of Industry 4.0 and specific project proposals. The dissemination of Industry 4.0 is supported through this Readiness Model. In addition a benchmark data base is filled to enable comparisons of enterprises and to observe the historical development of the industry 4.0 readiness of several industries.

The importance of efficient logistics as a key success factor for companies is well known. Efficient logistics processes can help to gain competitive advantage and to secure market positions of companies. The supplier industry is not exempt from this trend taking responsibility of diverse activities for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) in providing ready modules and systems. However, complex supply chains cause high logistics costs. As various supply concepts are possible for parts and materials produced in upstream stages of the supply chain, each of these concepts entail differing costs. The identification of an economically optimal supply concept through comparison and evaluation of alternatives is therefore of strategic importance. The article demonstrates the use of the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) concept for this purpose.

Industry 4.0 not only changes products, processes and work organisation, but also the understanding of leadership. Manager in future are visionaries, analysts and mentors who develop the strategy and new business models, designer and moderators for virtual and intercultural teams, self-reflected personalities..

The increase of complexity in the field of production due to “Industrie 4.0” causes also a rapid increase of the complexity of tasks on the shopfloor level. Thus, efficient methods for the systematic identification of the competence deficits of the employees as well as new forms of knowledge management for an adequate administration of knowledge have to be established.

Today’s in-house training faces the challenge an increasing demand for work expertise against the background of a continuing reduction of staff. This paper describes how companies can meet these challenges supported by a technology-enhanced approach. A central part of the solution is an intelligent-adaptive learning system that allows employees to create learning media while solving operational challenges and, at a later time to access these media, adapted to their individual needs. The article outlines the main human, technical and organizational requirements that an integration of such an adaptive digital learning and assistance system into a company faces.

Industrial work 4.0 challenges workers due to ambiguity, self-organization, and interconnec-tedness. To qualify workers to successfully cope with these challenges, this article introduces the software-based situational learning factory that is completed like a flight simulator. By playing these so called serious games that simulate situations on the shop floor of varying complexity, employees gain experiential knowledge and improve their IT-skills.