A precondition for optimized resource use in the context of smart factories

Smart factories have the characteristic ability to absorb last-minute changes and malfunctions in production and to react flexibly with optimum utilization of resources. The latter demands a high resilience level of the entire production system in order to compensate fluctuating specific production requirements in a transparent manner and unhampered by any barriers. The resulting areas of research include production technology, digitization as well as aspects of resource efficiency and learning. This keynote contribution will present the interaction of these four main fields of development which are increasingly considered as a converging issue and implemented into innovative smart factories. Specific project examples, particularly of the automotive supply chain, will demonstrate research activities. Regarding tool making, stamping and car body construction, individual solution modules are presented which cause an increase in resilience in production, thus ensuring sustainable use of resources.