Technologie: Training

Industrial Transformation via a Machining Learning Factory

Industrial Transformation via a Machining Learning Factory

A learning module to foster competencies for a sustainability-driven transformation
Oskay Ozen ORCID Icon, Victoria Breidling ORCID Icon, Matthias Weigold, Stefan Seyfried ORCID Icon
Sustainability-enhancing transformation processes are necessary in all sectors if we are to remain within planetary boundaries. This also applies to the industrial sector as a significant emitter of greenhouse gases. Employees need new competencies to master this complex task of industrial transformation. These range from CO2 equivalents accounting to the development and evaluation of transformation scenarios, including technical measures. The learning module developed here addresses these competency requirements and uses the example of the ETA factory to show how a competency-oriented learning module for industrial transformation can be structured. It essentially comprises four phases: data collection and CO2 equivalents accounting, cause analysis, development of measures and evaluation of measures.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 42 | Edition 2 | Pages 38-47 | DOI 10.30844/I4SE.26.2.38
AI Colleagues?

AI Colleagues?

Competence requirements and training for AI use in industry
Swetlana Franken ORCID Icon
Artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing tasks, roles, and skills in (industrial) companies. Increasingly, it acts as a colleague, preparing decisions, supporting processes, and interacting with people. This article highlights key competence requirements for AI use in industry, presents an integrated competence model, and outlines practical strategies for the transfer of skills. The aim is to prepare companies and employees for humane, competence-oriented AI implementation that combines technological efficiency with human creativity and judgment.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 42 | 2026 | Edition 2 | Pages 78-86
Building the Future Workforce Today

Building the Future Workforce Today

Trendiation as a strategic framework for employee qualification and training
Jürgen Fritz, Sebastian Busse, Ingo Dieckmann, Torsten Laub
As Industry 4.0 and artificial intelligence reshape organizational capabilities, traditional training systems struggle to keep pace with evolving skill requirements. This paper introduces Trendiation—a structured methodology for translating emerging trends into actionable strategies—as a systematic approach to this challenge. Through a workshop-based application examining Edutainment, Human-Centered Design, and Workforce Transformation, we demonstrate how organizations can move from abstract trend identification to concrete qualification requirements and prioritized training initiatives. The method produces a traceable artifact chain spanning trend framing, capability-gap assessment, and implementation roadmaps. Participant evaluations indicate high perceived clarity and practical utility. By bridging foresight analysis with participatory design, Trendiation enables organizations to proactively cultivate adaptive capabilities and build learning cultures aligned with future work ...
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 42 | 2026 | Edition 2 | Pages 22-29 | DOI 10.30844/I4SE.26.2.22
Co-Determination Dialogues

Co-Determination Dialogues

A tool for human-centered AI implementation
Manfred Wannöffel ORCID Icon, Fabian Hoose ORCID Icon, Alexander Ranft, Claudia Niewerth ORCID Icon, Dirk Stüter
As part of the regional competence center humAIne, funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR), a process was developed using co-determination dialogues to establish a common understanding of the challenges involved in the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) between management, employees, and interest groups. Experiences from project partner companies such as Doncasters Precision Castings in Bochum GmbH (DPC) exemplify how co-determination dialogues not only help to develop legally binding regulations for manageable, operationally anchored, sustainable AI use but also initiate continuous qualification processes for all stakeholder groups in accordance with Articles 4 and 5 of the EU AI Act.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 42 | Edition 1 | Pages 92-98 | DOI 10.30844/I4SE.26.1.84
Human-Centered AI in Companies with Employee Representation

Human-Centered AI in Companies with Employee Representation

Using the HUMAINE model for a company-specific works agreement
Alexander Ranft, Fabian Hoose ORCID Icon, Claudia Niewerth ORCID Icon, Mathias Preuß, Manfred Wannöffel ORCID Icon
The introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) in companies poses new challenges for regulation and co-determination. Binding requirements have been in force since the 2025 EU AI Act, which must be linked nationally with the Works Constitution Act (BetrVG). The regional competence center humAine has developed a model works agreement on AI (MBV KI) in accordance with Section 77 BetrVG, which strengthens co-determination rights in companies and implements European regulations in a practical way. Flanked by co-determination dialogues, the MBV KI enables company-specific adaptation for responsible and human-centered AI use. Using selected parts of the MBV KI as examples, this article shows how a framework works agreement on AI can be designed and discusses its transferability to companies without a works council. The MBV KI presented here contributes to the sustainable, socially secure design of the digital transformation.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 42 | Edition 1 | Pages 14-21 | DOI 10.30844/I4SE.26.1.14
Pre-Stages of GenAI Governance via Managerial Communication

Pre-Stages of GenAI Governance via Managerial Communication

Exploratory findings from SMEs in the Ruhr area
Niklas Obermann ORCID Icon, Uta Wilkens ORCID Icon, Antonia Weirich ORCID Icon, Matthias E. Cichon ORCID Icon, Jürgen Mazarov, Bernd Kuhlenkötter ORCID Icon
The governance of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) usage is often described as a formalized reporting system. This neglects the early-stage mechanisms of coping with ethical challenges during the GenAI implementation period. Exploratory empirical findings from the Ruhr area reveal that managerial communicative practices serve as a substitute for missing institutional structures, particularly at an early stage of GenAI implementation in SMEs.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 42 | Edition 1 | Pages 6-13 | DOI 10.30844/I4SE.26.1.6
AI Skills for Responsible Use

AI Skills for Responsible Use

Realistic learning environments, critical thinking, and role design in teams
Valentin Langholf ORCID Icon, Niklas Obermann ORCID Icon, Uta Wilkens ORCID Icon, Marco Kuhnke, Michael Prüfer
Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the world of work. But how can work teams learn to use AI support in a way that delivers speed advantages and ensures consistently high quality? One possible approach is to test it in a workplace-like simulation. Trying it out under realistic conditions shows the role that critical thinking plays.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 42 | Edition 1 | Pages 100-107 | DOI 10.30844/I4SE.26.1.92
Adapting AI Work Systems for Human-Centeredness

Adapting AI Work Systems for Human-Centeredness

A methodical approach for exploring the design space in transdisciplinary teams
Florian Bülow, Michael Herzog, Sophie Berretta ORCID Icon, Dominik Arnold, Christian Els, Bernd Kuhlenkötter ORCID Icon
Designing adaptations in AI-based work systems poses a central challenge for achieving human-centered AI (HCAI). This paper presents a methodical approach that enables transdisciplinary teams to systematically explore and structure the design space of adaptable work systems. Building on an extended work system model and operationalized through a matrix-based framework, the method supports the identification of interdependencies, stakeholder perspectives, and context-specific goals. Its practical applicability is demonstrated through a real-world case study in radiographic non-destructive testing.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 42 | Edition 1 | Pages 44-53 | DOI 10.30844/I4SE.26.1.136
Potentials, Premises, Perspectives

Potentials, Premises, Perspectives

Using LLMs to reinterpret corporate knowledge management
Vanessa Kuks ORCID Icon, Pius Finkel ORCID Icon, Peter Wurster ORCID Icon
Demographic change is exacerbating the shortage of labor and skilled workers in the manufacturing industry, making knowledge management an increasingly important issue in many companies. Collecting and preserving tacit knowledge poses a particular challenge. This study examines the extent to which large language models (LLMs) can provide meaningful support in knowledge gathering through expert interviews. Three experts test and evaluate a personalized chatbot that has been developed using ChatGPT-5. The results of the interview are promising, but the summary shows room for improvement.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 41 | Edition 6 | Pages 48-56 | DOI 10.30844/I4SE.25.6.48
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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