Technologie: Training

Functional materials, so called smart materials, have the ability to adapt to external environmental conditions i.e. they are able to change their properties through external physical stimuli so that, they are optimally adapted to their surroundings. These processes are accompanied by energy conversion processes. These properties predestine smart materials to act as sensors and actuators. They enable high functionality in simplified structures, already on the material level. Therewith, a new and better quality can be achieved in product design.

When aiming for an Industry 4.0 vision, companies are well-advised to not only focus on technology and data. With any digital transformation, the careful consideration of all elements of the company’s “socio-technical triangle” (man, technology, and organization) is a central success factor. Based on a qualitative survey, we identified qualification, organization, and leadership as central dimensions of the work system. Integrative measures include identification of competence requirements, training in data-thinking as well as agile working methods and structures. Finally, leadership plays a central role in orchestrating the digital transformation.

Recently, implementation procedures of automatic production, digitalization and Industrial Internet of Things technologies (IIoT) play an increasing role in industrial manufacturing processes. Subsequently, the competence requirements for employees change. These changes cannot be anticipated by traditional learning approaches. The following contribution faces this challenge and will show a new integrated learning factory approach which combines the application of new technologies with a flexible production environment. Thus establishing production surroundings that are familiar to the learner. The contribution demonstrates this approach using a quality control process in the context of logistics.

Digitization has a considerable impact on companies and their business environment. With extensive digital pilot projects and digitization programs, large corporations show that they are increasingly internalizing the digital transformation. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), on the other hand, often have a need to catch up. In addition to the technical aspects of digital transformation, the human factor is playing an increasingly important role. With the help of a cross-sectional analysis of German SMEs, findings on digitization competence were derived and analyzed across industries. The term work 4.0 was divided into the dimensions of qualification, organization and leadership and these were considered as influencing factors. In individual industries, there are clear deficits in the area of digitization competence. It shows that these competences depend to a large extent on the dimensions of the work 4.0.