production

Discrete-event simulation of logistics and production systems plays an important role in the context of digital transformation. Its integration into modern planning and control processes is urgently required in order to realize Industry 4.0 concepts. In addition, simulation models will be an important part of the so-called digital twin in the planning and operation. However, the requirements for simulation models and tools are not yet comprehensively defined, and technical solutions have not been adequately implemented. This article presents the fields of action for the implementation.

Assistance technologies are an approach to support skilled workers in their work processes that are currently changing under the influence of the 4th industrial revolution. They aim at reducing physical and psychological stress by processing the big amount of decision-relevant data in a way that it serves workers for their decision-making process. Work places need to be designed in a way that they encourage learning and competence development and that involves future users in this design process.

The development of industry 4.0 concepts in production and logistics has progressed rapidly in recent years. The systems being affected by rapid technological changes, such as the introduction of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS). The realization of CPS requires interdisciplinary considerations of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, information and business management. The full potential of industry 4.0 can only be deployed, when in addition to technical challenges also business opportunities are involved in the development. The aim of this paper is to show specific requirements for development of CPS systems and to identify approaches for Cyber-Physical Product-Service Systems (CPSS).

Current developments of Industry 4.0 offer new possibilities for coordination and coope-ration in production networks. Information technology allows for an ad-hoc documentation and analysis of system states. Hence, manufacturing resources can be offered to other companies in the short term, and coordination, scheduling, and billing can be done quickly. Industry and science now need to find appropriate procedures and practices how to implement and run networks of shared resources.

Nowadays factories have to withhold an ever rising pressure to succeed. Customer demands become more demanding and goods have to be available within shorter lead times and lower prices. Flexibility, reliability and resilience are key factors for companies. Against this background, there is a need in companies for constant analysis of their business processes. This is an addition to a paper that was published in the last issue of this journal. The first part focused on the general possibility of the two methods “Dortmunder Process Chain Model” and production characteristics curves and how they could be used to analyse factories in different detail levels. In this second part the focus is set more on the perspectives that both models base on. On the one hand there is the order flow perspective of the “Dortmunder Process Chain Model” and on the other hand the resource perspective of the production characteristics curves that have to be aligned.

The development of information and communication technologies (ICT) is progressing rapidly and is seen in today‘s economic action as a key driver of innovation. Future industrial production is characterized by a high degree of customization of products and a strong production flexibility. The rapid development of the Internet has contributed especially in recent years in the private life of merging the real with the virtual world and will get stronger in the future of industrial sector. This paradigm shift is referred to as Industry 4.0. This paper gives an overview of the Industry 4.0 and represents the potential of the transformation process.

Nowadays factories have to withhold an ever rising pressure to succeed. Customer demands become more demanding and goods have to be available within shorter lead times and lower prices. Flexibility, reliability and resilience are key factors for companies. Against this background, there is a need in companies for constant analysis of their business processes. The process perspective that was established in the industry since the 1980s will be addressed in the following by using the “Dortmunder Process Chain Model”. A permanent preparedness for change relies on being able to report about the plant’s status quo at all times. Therefore valuation methods and key figures are needed that represented by production characteristics curves in this paper. After an introduction to these two topics, the combination of both to one process based valuation method will be outlined. The intended methodology will represent a holistic decision model for plant controlling. This approach is being ...