Refine
Document Type
- Conference Proceeding (16)
- Book (1)
Language
- English (17) (remove)
Is part of the Bibliography
- no (17)
Keywords
- 02 (5)
- 03 (1)
- 04 (1)
- 5G (4)
- ADAM (1)
- AI (2)
- Agriculture (1)
- Artificial intelligence (1)
- Auto-ML (2)
- CPS (2)
Institute
- FIR e. V. an der RWTH Aachen (17) (remove)
Numerous traditional, agile and hybrid development approaches have been proposed for the development of CPS. As the choice of development process is crucial to the success of development projects, it has become a major challenge to identify the best-suited process. This paper introduces a methodology for identifying the best-suited CPS development process, based on the individual boundary conditions for a certain development project within a company. The authors used a set of eight indicators to assess a CPS-development project. The results of the assessment were matched with CPS-development approaches. Based on the matching results a best-suited development process was selected. The application is shown for a use case in the German manufacturing industry. The developed method aims to reduce the risk of project failure due to the wrong choice of development process.
The number of available technologies is constantly rising. Be it additive manufacturing, artificial intelligence (AI) or distributed ledger technologies. The choice of the right technologies may decide the fate of a company. Due to the overwhelming amount of information sources, regular technology market research becomes increasingly challenging, especially for SMEs. In order to assist the technology management process, the authors will introduce the architecture of an automated, AI-based technology radar. The architecture will automatically collect data from relevant sources, assess the relevance of the respective technology (i.e. their maturity level) and then visualize it on the radar map.
Manufacturing companies face the challenge of selecting digitalization measures that fit their strategy. Measures that are initiated and not aligned with the company’s strategy carry the risk of failing due to lack of relevance. This leads to an ineffective use of scarce human and financial resources. This paper presents a target system to help companies select relevant digitalization measures compliant with their strategy for IT-OT-integration projects. The target system was developed based on literature research and expert interviews, and later validated in two use cases. The target system considers the goals of production companies and combines them with digitalization measures. The measures are classified by different maturity levels required for their realization. Thus, the target system enables manufacturing companies to evaluate digitalization measures with regards to their strategic relevance and the required Industrie 4.0 maturity level for their realization. This ensures an effective use of resources.
Digitalization and Industry 4.0 continue to shape our industrial environment and collaboration. For many enterprises, a key challenge in moving forward in this matter is the integration of their shop-floor systems (hard- and software) with their office-floor systems to harvest the full potential of industry 4.0.
A multitude of different technologies and respective use-cases available on the market leave many companies startled. This paper presents a set of use-cases for IT-OT-Integration to bring transparency into a company’s digital transformation.
Additionally, a technical requirements profile for integrating IT- and OT-Systems based on the use cases is presented. Both, use-cases and their requirements, guide companies in selecting the digitalization measures that fit their current situation and help in identifying technical challenges that need to be addressed in the transformation process.
Industry 4.0 is driven by Cyber-Physical Systems and Smart Products. Smart Products provide a value to both its users and its manufacturers in terms of a closer connection to the customer and his data as well as the provided smart services. However, many companies, especially SMEs, struggle with the transformation of their existing product portfolio into smart products. In order to facilitate this process, this paper presents a set of smart product use-cases from a manufacturer’s perspective. These use-cases can guide the definition of a smart product and be used during its architecture development and realization. Initially the paper gives an introduction in the field of smart products. After that the research results, based on case-study research, are presented. This includes the methodological approach, the case-study data collection and analysis. Finally, a set of use-cases, their definitions and components are presented and highlighted from the perspective of a smart product manufacturer.
Methods of machine learning (ML) are notoriously difficult for enterprises to employ productively. Data science is not a core skill of most companies, and acquiring external talent is expensive. Automated machine learning (Auto-ML) aims to alleviate this, democratising machine learning by introducing elements such as low-code / no-code functionalities into its model creation process. Multiple applications are possible for Auto-ML, such as Natural Language Processing (NLP), predictive modelling and optimization. However, employing Auto-ML still proves difficult for companies due to the dynamic vendor market: The solutions vary in scope and functionality while providers do little to delineate their offerings from related solutions like industrial IoT-Platforms. Additionally, the current research on Auto-ML focuses on mathematical optimization of the underlying algorithms, with diminishing returns for end users. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview over available, user-friendly ML technology through a descriptive model of the functions of current Auto-ML solutions. The model was created based on case studies of available solutions and an analysis of relevant literature. This method yielded a comprehensive function tree for Auto-ML solutions along with a methodology to update the descriptive model in case the dynamic provider market changes. Thus, the paper catalyses the use of ML in companies by providing companies and stakeholders with a framework to assess the functional scope of Auto-ML solutions.
Methods of machine learning (ML) are difficult for manufacturing companies to employ productively. Data science is not their core skill, and acquiring talent is expensive. Automated machine learning (Auto-ML) aims to alleviate this, democratizing machine learning by introducing elements such as low-code or no-code functionalities into its model creation process. Due to the dynamic vendor market of Auto-ML, it is difficult for manufacturing companies to successfully implement this technology. Different solutions as well as constantly changing requirements and functional scopes make a correct software selection difficult. This paper aims to alleviate said challenge by providing a longlist of requirements that companies should pay attention to when selecting a solution for their use case. The paper is part of a larger research effort, in which a structured selection process for Auto-ML solutions in manufacturing companies is designed. The longlist itself is the result of six case studies of different manufacturing companies, following the method of case study research by Eisenhardt. A total of 75 distinct requirements were identified, spanning the entire machine learning and modeling pipeline.
Companies are transforming from transactional sales to providing solutions for their customers. Mostly, smart products, enabling companies to enhance their products by providing smart services to their customers, are a key building block in this transformation. However, the development of a smart product requires many digital skills and knowledge, which regular companies do not have. To facilitate the design and conceptualization of smart products, this paper presents a use-case-based information systems architecture prototype for smart products. Furthermore, the paper features the application and evaluation of the architecture on two different smart product projects. The use of such an architecture as a reference in smart product development serves as a huge advantage and accelerator for inexperienced companies, allowing faster entry into this new field of business. [https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-14844-6_16]
This paper addresses the challenge of modelling individual cyber-physical systems (CPS) for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in manufacturing industries. CPS are key technology building blocks for the implementation of Industrie 4.0. Especially for SMEs the increase of production efficiency and reduction of manufacturing costs through CPS offer potential to maintain their competitiveness and innovation capacity. Although SMEs perceive the potential of CPS, they often lack financial and human resources to acquire the necessary CPS-competencies as well as an overview of all the currently available technological solutions. To overcome this issue a matching platform will offer SMEs support in finding suitable CPS-components by letting them express their functional and technical requirements. The matching logic is based on a set of morphologies that encompasses the functional and requirement spectrum of CPS-components. The matching algorithm analyses the input for congruence of requirements and available technologies and suggests suitable technology combinations. This paper describes the methodology of the matching platform, and introduces the research work to define and to develop the technology morphologies. The presented results facilitate the selection and configuration of CPS for SMEs.
Networked digitalisation as an enabler for smart products and data-based business models presents companies with numerous and diverse challenges on their way through the digital transformation. Various reference architecture models have been developed in recent years to support these companies. A detailed analysis of these and in particular their use by companies quickly showed that currently existing reference models have major weaknesses in their practical suitability. With the Aachen Digital Architecture Management (ADAM), a framework was developed that specifically addresses the weaknesses of existing reference architectures and specifically takes up their strengths. As a holistic model, specially developed for use by companies, ADAM structures the digital transformation of companies in the areas of digital infrastructure and business development starting from customer requirements. Systematically, companies are enabled to drive the design of the digital architecture, taking into account design fields. The description of the design fields offers a detailed insight into the essential tasks on the way to a digitally networked company. The model is not only a structuring aid, but also contains a construction kit with the design fields to configure the procedure in the digital transformation. The procedure differentiates between the development of the digitalisation strategy and the implementation of the digital architecture. Three different case studies also show how ADAM is used in industry, what structuring support it can provide and how the digital transformation can be configured. The breadth and depth of ADAM enable companies to take the path of digital transformation systematically and in a structured manner, without ignoring the value-creating components of digitalisation. This qualifies ADAM as a sustainability-oriented framework, as it places the economic scaling, needs-based adaptation and future-oriented robustness of solution modules in the focus of digital transformation.