FG Automatisierungstechnik
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BTU
The Smart Production Vision
(2022)
In this chapter, the Smart Production vision is discussed. The Smart Production approach is developed and described, and Smart Production is positioned in relation to Industry 4.0. Smart Production operationalize the journey towards Industry 4.0 and beyond. First, the need for a new approach to manufacturing is discussed, and from the perspectives of Industry 4.0, the Smart Production concept is derived. Then the framework is explored and finally, the approach is outlined. The Smart Production vision is an approach to make an integrated production system smarter by continuous digitizing, automating, and organizing towards supporting the company specific missions.
This chapter will introduce the second part of the book. This part contains a collection of chapters aimed at supporting the SMEs in the transformation toward the Smart Production vision. In this part, different approaches are presented, which can assist SMEs in the formulation of a smart production vision and in the identification and prioritization of relevant initiatives, guiding the outline of a project roadmap. Furthermore, the part will introduce different regional innovation platforms in Denmark and Germany which support the SME transformations. Finally, it will be discussed how subscription-based methods could be used by SMEs to cut upfront investments and reduce requirements for digital competencies.
Intelligent Assistance Systems are a key technology for solving the problem of today’s quickly changing product configurations and the corresponding production requirements focusing on human needs. A recent study among industrial German companies identifies higher productivity, process control, quality, and cost-effectiveness as the main potentials of assistance technologies by reducing the worker’s cognitive load. Choosing the right combination of assistance technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality, machine learning, and their functionalities like learning capabilities, situation awareness, and assembly activity recognition remain essential for their success. This chapter presents an assistance systems overview, focusing on assistance technologies, for application at production sites. Furthermore, an example of a gesture recognition-based assistance system is given, showing the benefits arising from today’s advanced assistance technologies.
The Augmented reality (AR) technologies have been first discovered in the third quarter of the twentieth century. However, the wider development of them has taken place only in the last two decades. By now, the research has shown that AR can be used in various areas of human activity. In industry, AR simplifies humanmachine communication and improves human-machine interfaces (HMI) for fast and feedback-provided retrieval of training/guidance information for operation pattern study, error correction, machine maintenance, assembly assistance, etc. In spite of that, the broad practical implementation of AR in industry, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), has faced considerable problems. As a result, the following controversy emerged: the comprehensive study of AR is combined with a rather narrow practical use primarily for advertising and demonstration tasks. This chapter attempts not only to overview the current state of AR in the industry, but also demonstrate the current challenges the AR is facing, as well as to analyse their respective causes and suggest solution ideas. It is also intended to assess the prospects for further development of AR and its continued integration into the industry. For this purpose, several examples of AR projects, their development, practical use and upgrading (performed by the authors of this study as well) are presented.
Qualification in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises as the Key Driver for a Digitalized Economy
(2022)
Transformation processes towards a smart production reshape the way we work. Digitalization and the application of new technologies lead to additional interfaces between man and machine and thus, result in a tremendous change of employment, work environment and workforce qualification. This in turn means, to take full advantage of digitalization employees at all levels and sectors have to be evolved in the transformation process and need to be skilled for the upcoming challenges. To meet this need for qualification and to sensitize especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to the matter of digitalization, the Competence Center Cottbus was founded.
Through a four-step approach, the Center addresses SMEs at all digitalization levels, from beginners to innovators. The central instrument for the Centers’ work is the self-developed LTA-FIT qualification concept. This concept is designed to impart the required knowledge and competences in accordance with the distinct qualification level of SMEs and their employees.
This book explains and exemplifies how SMEs can embrace the Smart Production approach and technologies in order to gain a beneficiary outcome. The book describes the Smart Production vision for SMEs, as well as the method to get there. The concept behind the book is based on the long-term experience of the authors in researching and tackling problems of SMEs in the manufacturing sector. The book provides applied methods and obtained solutions in different branches and different sizes of SMEs, encompassing a broad survey of our markets and societies. The perspective is systemic/holistic and integrated including human, organizational, technological, and digital perspectives.
Digitalization and automation represent both a major challenge and a long-term opportunity for SMEs to secure their business success. They often lack specialist knowledge and a sufficient financial scope and therefore need external support in meeting these challenges. This is of particular relevance and political interest as Brandenburgs economy is determined by SMEs. Knowledge and technology transfer between scientific institutions and companies is seen as a possible solution. However, different goals, approaches and expectations of researchers and companies inhibits or complicates a successful cooperation. Therefore, transfer intermediaries are needed as mediators.The book chapter uses the example of IMI Brandenburg to show how knowledge and technology transfer can be implemented by intermediaries and what key findings were obtained in the process. Furthermore, possible success factors for both the digitization of Brandenburg's SMEs and successful knowledge and technology transfer are discussed.The chapter addresses decision-makers in SMEs as well as research institutions and transfer intermediaries and is intended to raise awareness of the opportunities, challenges and solutions in the cooperation between science and industry.
Schmitt et al. provide a brief overview of the key technology for Industry 4.0, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). For this purpose, the paper first examines how this technology has developed, what its essential components are and what challenges still need to be overcome. The work particularly presents the specific requirements, challenges and opportunities for SMEs. “Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)” concludes with an example about the integration of IIoT in a model factory.
Borck et al. evaluate the challenges and opportunities of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and smart sensors in human-centered manufacturing. Particularly in small and medium-sized manufacturing with fewer machines and smart tools, it is significantly more difficult to automate processes and get the required information from the shop floor. Therefore, they give proven recommendations for the use of sensors based on a set of frequently occurring tasks in assembly, maintenance and logistics to achieve the support of smart data models in the context of Industry 4.0. “IIoT and smart sensors in human-centered manufacturing” concludes with concrete sample scenarios and describe the challenges and one solution using smart sensors and data models.
Abstract. As product specifications change, manufacturing processes have to adapt. In manual production tasks, the human worker is forced to adapt at the same pace. Fast-changing work tasks lead to high stress and therefore increase failures. Digital assistance systems aim to support the human workforce by providing assembly instructions at the right time and in the right place to reduce the cognitive load. The latest digital assistance systems provide multimodal humanmachine interfaces, such as augmented reality, haptic feedback, and voice control to provide information or react to the user’s input.However, those digital assistance systems require the manufacturing information themselves, which are mostly provided through text-based or graphical programming. Both manufacturing experts and programmers are needed to create a digital assistance system workflow or adapt it to changes. This process is costly, time-consuming, and inflexible. This work presents a gesture recognition based approach for a self-learning digital assistance system. Therefore, assembly gestures are classified based on anatomical grip descriptions. Assembly sequences are recognized and learned by the digital assistance system using machine learning techniques. The learned procedures are used to automatically generate work instructions and guide the worker through the assembly task.