First Results of a Survey on Manufacturing of the Future

Today's production methods are challenged by changing paradigms from a static constraint mass production and mass customization to continuing personalization and regionalization of product, production and markets. It is yet unclear what future production systems will be the most appropriate, how they will look like and how the current, uncertain trends in manufacturing can be tackled most effectively. In this paper, first results from a comprehensive questionnaire on »The Intelligent Production of the Future«, performed by a consortium of researchers from the Institute for Computer Science and Control (SZTAKI) and the Fraunhofer-Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA are outlined. During this survey, stakeholders and peers from more than 70 companies and research institutions in Germany, Austria and Hungary have been asked to share their impressions, describe their opinions and rate central statements on future production systems, methodologies and trends. The paper outlines the most important topics of future production systems and lessons learned during the evaluation of the survey.