Digital factory planning for SMEs - Minister Sinemus visits knowledge transfer laboratory

"We are making the future tangible for small and medium-sized businesses," emphasized Minister of State Sinemus. "It is important to me that we take people with us and strengthen the region of North Hesse. After all, innovative strength always comes from people."

The knowledge transfer lab offers the possibility, for example, to plan automated production lines according to specific aspects such as efficiency or production speed. It is equipped with various techniques for visualization and simulation. Physical and digital models complement each other and provide the opportunity to better understand dynamic relationships of a production and logistics system. "The "Digital Factory" competence lab, which we have used at the department primarily for research and teaching to date, will be expanded into an SME knowledge transfer lab via the funding in order to illustrate the methods of digital factory planning and their potential benefits to companies using scenarios and to explain how these methods can be integrated into operational planning operations," emphasized Prof. Dr.-Ing. Sigrid Wenzel.

The extension opens up opportunities for SMEs to acquire knowledge in the field of simulation-based, model- and data-driven planning of production and logistics systems, including the implementation of digital twins of production. The SME knowledge transfer lab thus serves as a practical transfer environment that teaches companies the methodology of digital holistic planning in a situation-dependent and problem-specific manner. For the companies, added value is created by an adequate and scientifically sound selection of methods. This enables them to clearly assess their current corporate situation with regard to digital transformation and evaluate the necessity of digital planning for themselves. Planning and experimentation scenarios give SMEs quick and problem-specific access to the knowledge of digital planning. Service providers, suppliers and manufacturing companies can also exchange information with each other about their situations and maturity levels with regard to Industrie 4.0. Through this competence building, SMEs from the Hesse region and nationwide are strengthened and prepared for the digital transformation. "We want to pick up companies where problems arise in the transformation to Industrie 4.0 and then support them in the implementation of digitization projects according to their needs," explained Jana Stolipin, research associate at the department.

"The lab is an outstanding example of the central role that digitization already plays at the University of Kassel," said University President Prof. Reiner Finkeldey, who welcomed Minister Sinemus. "The opportunities of digitization are used for our research and teaching, knowledge transfer and in many other ways, for example in administration. We often focus on the importance of digital technologies for individuals or society. We are convinced that interdisciplinarity is a key to shaping digital transformation."

Interested companies can contact the Production Organization and Factory Planning department. The "SME Knowledge Transfer Lab Digital Factory" research project, which will run for three years, is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 2014 to 2020 and by the state of Hesse.

The mechanical engineering program at the University of Kassel had performed extremely well in the latest CHE ranking. In the winter semester 2019/20, according to preliminary figures, more than 1,700 students are enrolled in the Department of Mechanical Engineering in the study programs Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Production Management, Mechatronics as well as Renewable Energies.

Contact:

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Sigrid Wenzel and Jana Stolipin, M.Sc.
University of Kassel
Department of Production Organization and Factory Planning
Tel.: +49 561 804-1855
E-mail: s.wenzel[at]uni-kassel[dot]de
E-mail: jana.stolipin[at]uni-kassel[dot]de

Sebastian Mense
University of Kassel
Communication, Press and Public Relations
Tel.: +49 561 804-1961
E-Mail: presse[at]uni-kassel[dot]de
www.uni-kassel.de