Stefan Kugler M.Sc.

Mittelstand 4.0-Kompetenzzentrum Darmstadt

Until August 2018, Mr. Kugler worked on the MiT4.0 – Competence Center Darmstadt for Small and Medium Enterprises. MiT4.0 with its learning factories at the TU Darmstadt provides small and medium sized enterprises a central platform for knowledge transfer and training modules. During the workshops, company representatives are directly informed about the potentials and challenges for the digitalization of their business processes. In addition, there are eight implementation projects offered for selected individual companies and numerous Industrie 4.0 research projects.

Under the umbrella of the MiT4.0, small and medium sized enterprises are offered following support:

• Initial information about digital transformation, e.g. by demonstrators or by showing existing solutions

• Training courses in the fields of action: “Efficient value-added process”, “Work & Labor 4.0”, “New business models”, “Energy management”, and “IT security”.

• IHK certificate course “Train the Trainer 4.0” for business consultants, trainers in commerce chambers and associations

• E-learning programs, workgroups, and conferences

Through diverse events and further training formats more than 3.000 people from company representatives, consultants, as well as labor union members should be reached during the project term.

Space Factory 4.0 – Grundlagenentwicklung zur robotischen Montage von hochmodularen Satelliten auf einer In-Orbit-Plattform basierend auf Industrie 4.0-Prozesse.

Space Factory 4.0 is a joint project dealing with the basic development for the robotic assembly of highly modular satellites on an in-orbit platform based on „Industrie 4.0” processes. It is funded by the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt – DLR) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi). The Technische Universität Darmstadt, the Technische Universität München and the Zentrum für Telematik (ZfT) in Würzburg are involved in Space Factory 4.0. Furthermore, three companies from the aerospace industry, OHB System, Von Hoerner & Sulger (VH&S) and Telespazio VEGA Germany are taking part as subcontractors in this project. In scope of Space Factory 4.0, Herr Stefan Kugler deals with innovative processes based on the latest findings from the introduction of Industrie 4.0 in Germany for the assembly of highly modular satellites. The approach of the Digital Twin plays a central role and is extensively explored within this project.

http://www.dik.tu-darmstadt.de/forschung_dik/projekte/aktuelleprojekte_5/space_factory_4__0/spacefactory40.en.jsp

ArePron – agile resource efficient production network

Since August 2018, Mr. Kugler has worked on the transfer project “ArePron – agile resource efficient production network” on the part of the Department of Computer Integrated Design (DiK). The project is approved by the Hessian Ministry of Economics, Energy, Transport and Regional Development (HMWEVL) and financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Hessian Ministry. The project is a collaboration between the Department of Computer Integrated Design, the Department of Material Flow Management and Resource Economy and the Institute of Production Management, Technology and Machine Tools. The aim until the end of the project in December 2020 is the increase of the resource efficiency with the help of an intelligent, cross-location linking of production systems. Technologies of digitalization improve the resource efficiency and, therefore, reduce costs while they reduce the ecological footprint of the company. With the help of collected, analysed and conserved data, the resource efficiency of a manufactured part can be determined and optimized. On the part of the Department of Computer Integrated Design, the information and communication infrastructure is developed and implemented, which enables the collection and usage of data. In the end of the project, workshops and guidelines help to transfer information into the companies.

ReOptify – Resource optimization along the product lifecylce

In January 2021, the transfer project “ReOptify – Resource optimization along the product lifecycle” started. The project, approved and funded by the Hessian Ministry of Economics, Energy, Transport and Housing as well as by European funds (EFRE), is being carried out in cooperation with the Department of “Materials Management and Resource Economics” (SuR) and the Institute for “Production Management, Technology and Machine Tools” (PTW).

The aim of the project, which will run until the end of 2021, is to increase resource efficiency. Within the framework of the successfully completed transfer project ArePron – Agile resource-efficient production network – further focal points were identified that are suitable for closer examination and intensive knowledge transfer. A more in-depth scientific investigation will enable a closer look at and expansion of the topic of resource efficiency in production networks as well as the presentation of important findings for future knowledge transfer. Three topics have emerged as particularly relevant for a deeper consideration. The project executing agency is the WIBank – The Development Bank in Hesse.

A first work package is the expansion of the production network to include new machines and new product variants. A real-time value stream management system will be used to display and manage production information of the product variants.
In the second work package, the supply of compressed air will be investigated with regard to resource efficiency potentials and the formation of key figures. The findings obtained are to be made available as user-oriented recommendations for action and communicated to the target group, especially SMEs.
In the third work package, the aim is to link development data with production data in order to draw conclusions about resource efficiency from this link and to be able to derive measures for a possible increase.

Team