"Machines that communicate with each other and exchange information about their status, workpieces and various error messages, thus optimizing themselves. Not at all!"
The ever-advancing digitalization of our economic world has now also affected production processes. So-called "smart production", i.e. the networking of machines, people and services across the entire production process, is becoming increasingly important - also in Styria. And there is no way around the experts at FH JOANNEUM. To this end, a 600-square-meter laboratory has been opened in Kapfenberg, where students and companies can test new Industry 4.0 production techniques and research the efficient networking of high-tech equipment.
Vision
- Create a hub for I4.0 topics of business and science in Hochsteiermark.
- Pursue accelerated applied research of I4.0 building blocks for translation for/in SMEs.
- Establish a competence platform to discuss and test new technologies and standards.
- A training factory used in a variety of ways, in which the specialists of tomorrow can qualify, build up and further develop themselves for the requirements of digitization using hands-on use cases. In addition, specifically developed training programs are used to train specialists and managers who are already in the industry.
- Offer companies, schools and interested private individuals the opportunity to experience I4.0 up close.
One laboratory - many facets
The central research focus of the modern Smart Production Lab is the networking of the entire supply chain, from the supplier to the producer to the customer (horizontal integration) as well as IT integration with continuous data flow from the store floor to the business IT systems (vertical integration), see concept map. In addition, the "human factor" in digitized production is also addressed. Here, research is being conducted into what the skills and job profiles of the future will look like on the one hand, and how people on the store floor can be supported with assistance systems (e.g. augmented reality). On the other hand, the research also focuses on the development of necessary training methods - for example, for the design of digital learning.