Integrative Production Technology for High-Wage Countries

In contradiction to the incompatibility of economies of scale and economies of scope, manufacturing companies in high-wage countries are facing increasing challenges. This challenge corresponds to a resolution of the scale-scope-dichotomy. Product production systems have to be adjusted to one another regarding their specific degree of standardisation in order to resolve the dichotomy.
An integrated assessment model classifies product productions systems in four quantifiable fields of tension. Based on the model, the current operating point of a production system can be analysed. A configuration logic - derived from the results of the analysis - provides the means to control a production system's configuration process.

The planning of production processes is characterised by unlinked simulations of specific aspects, which are based on standard assumption. The impact of ustream production processes cannot be taken into account. To increase simulation quality, individual simulations have to be linked and combined to a simulation chain.
The Virtual Production Systems researches a method to link simulation resources, data sets and access rights to the generated integrative simulation platform. The general concept also contains subsequent analysis of simulation results by methods of visualisation.

An important part in securing the competitiveness of industrial production is advancing the manufacturing processes as it currently pushes existing boundaries of manufacturing technologies and taps new fields of applications.
The issue of Hybridisation of manufacturing technologies is the systematic development and early assessment of possible application. The integration of knowledge of different disciplines of production engineering is crucial to its success.

Cognitive technologies can enable production systems to adapt self-optimizingly to variable conditions. The primary objective is to ensure product quality by aligning the considered process chain to the fulfillment of the required product features by designing inter-process control loops. Therefore the production system can dynamically permit deviations of other goals during the production process or compensate deviations by specific reactions and increase it flexibility and competitiveness.

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