Focus on added value for customers

Define functionalities, name data, generate added value for customers: That was the task assigned to the working groups for work and resource management, energy efficiency and maintenance, which have now been constituted within the Industry Business Network 4.0. The kick-off was a meeting at the association's headquarters in Bad Wörishofen, Bavaria. Under the leadership of TÜV Süd, the University of Augsburg and Fraunhofer IGCV, initial results were developed at a kickoff workshop. The association's chairman, Igor Mikulina, sees the project "on a very good track."

 

The manufacturers' association of innovative SMEs - Industry Business Network 4.0 e.V. - is continuing to drive forward its ambitious goals. At a kickoff workshop, the working groups on the specific added-value fields of work and resource management, energy efficiency and maintenance were constituted. Among the participants were manufacturers of cutting systems, plasma sources, filter systems, straightening machines, deburring systems and companies from the lifting, vacuum, gas and welding technology sectors. Other participants came from the fields of automation technology, software development, technology consulting, and science and research.

 

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Johannes Schilp, holder of the Chair of Production Informatics at the University of Augsburg and project manager at Fraunhofer IGCV, moderated the various working groups.

 

Dr.-Ing. Detlev Richter, Vice President of TÜV Süd Product Service GmbH, led the day: "These are enormous challenges that we are facing. We will develop together step by step. What we have learned as TÜV and why we are also here: We need small fast partners who are creative, who have ideas, who make," Richter said.

 

Konstantin Kernschmidt, Project Manager Industry 4.0 at the host and founding member MicroStep Europa GmbH, summarized the objective of the growing association: "We want to network all systems on the basis of a common standard and thus achieve that they can work together interoperably and securely in the future. The association is convinced that a common standard is the basic prerequisite for realizing the great potential of Industry 4.0 for the benefit of users.

 

"This has model character. We are launching a rocket that has it all".

 

Alexander Funk, Head of Marketing & Communication at MicroStep Europe, emphasized the importance of the association's activities: "Our association is the only one to get started on the subject of networking across manufacturers in this context. If we manage to do this, it will serve as a model. What we are doing here is not rocket science, but we are launching a rocket - and it's a good one!"

Together with Alexander Funk, Head of Marketing & Communications at MicroStep Europe, he presented the results and developments of the project teams over the past few months: "Our association is the only one to get started on the topic of networking across manufacturers in this context. If we can pull this off, it will serve as a model. What we're doing here isn't rocket science, but we're launching a rocket - and it's a good one!"
The aim of the working groups is to jointly define application solutions and the data required for them at eye level within the next few weeks and months. The first functionalities of the system have now been defined for the areas of work and resource management, energy efficiency and maintenance with a view to concrete added value for customers. In parallel, the establishment of cross-manufacturer reference plants at several locations is being driven forward. "Experiencing Industrie 4.0 plants live is, after all, the goal we want to achieve with the reference plants. In this way, we will show: Here is an application that is robust, that works and that you can also present to the customer accordingly," said Kernschmidt.

 

With the strengths of medium-sized companies: creativity and speed

 

Dr.-Ing. Michael Schnick, Managing Director of Oscar PLT GmbH, introduced the topic of Industry 4.0 in his keynote speech and explained current market findings. "In this circle in which we have come together today - this is the future!", explained the engineer, who is responsible for the development division for the plasma technology manufacturer Kjellberg Finsterwalde. "Open exchange of ideas, innovative solutions as well as concrete implementations: Along with creativity and speed, these are the strengths of medium-sized companies."

 

Igor Mikulina drew a thoroughly positive conclusion at the end of the working group meeting: "We have experienced today that we can make a lot of things happen with this breadth with which we are positioned," said the Chairman of the Board of the Industry Business Network 4.0 and Managing Director of MicroStep Europe. "Together, we will develop new business models for our customers and ourselves - and that will bring us plenty of joy."

 

At a kickoff workshop, the working groups on the specific added-value fields of work and resource management, energy efficiency and maintenance were constituted. Among the participants are manufacturers of cutting systems, plasma sources, filter systems, straightening machines and deburring systems, as well as companies from the fields of lifting, vacuum, gas and welding technology, and representatives of science and research.

 

The members of the Industry Business Network 4.0 e.V. have started to define concrete application solutions for the areas of work and resource management, energy efficiency and maintenance.

 

In his keynote address, Dr. Schnick introduced the association's objective: Namely, to network systems from different manufacturers on the basis of a common standard and thus to achieve the result that they can work together interoperably and also securely in the future.

 

TÜV Süd is also on board for the topic of safety and security. Dr.-Ing. Detlev Richter, Vice President of TÜV Süd Product Service GmbH, led the day. "We need small, fast partners who are creative, who have ideas, who do things," says Richter, explaining the organization's commitment.

 

The various working groups on the specific added-value fields of work and resource management, energy efficiency and maintenance were moderated by Prof. Dr. Johannes Schilp.

 

Prof. Dr. Johannes Schilp holds the Chair of Production Informatics at the University of Augsburg and is project manager at Fraunhofer IGCV.

 

Konstantin Kernschmidt, project manager Industrie 4.0 at the kickoff host and founding member MicroStep Europa GmbH, explained the technical basis of the project and summarized the objective of the growing association: "A common standard is the basic prerequisite to leverage the great potential of an Industrie 4.0 for the benefit of users."

 

Igor Mikulina drew a thoroughly positive conclusion from the kickoff workshop: "Today we experienced that we can achieve a great deal with the breadth with which we are positioned," said the Chairman of the Board of the Industry Business Network 4.0 and Managing Director of MicroStep Europe.

 

Focus on added value for customers: At the kickoff workshop of the Industry Business Network 4.0 working groups for work and resource management, energy efficiency, and maintenance, a permanent exchange was cultivated in order to be able to create robust Industrie 4.0 solutions for users.