Interoperability of Digitization Solutions as a Crucial Element for Collaborative, Hybrid Work Planning

Continuously shortening life cycles and global competitive pressure require an accelerated and collaborative approach with data consistency and availability, as well as compatibility between planning and visualization tools for planning and rescheduling processes of production systems. For consistent application, suitable methods must be available, be known and be testable. The Elbfabrik by Fraunhofer IFF creates a learning and interaction space where innovative digital solutions from product configuration, factory and work planning to factory operation are presented and can be tested. In this research and learning factory, digital twin technologies and methods of virtual product development are combined with the demonstration of real production processes for planning and operating a factory. An example of an assembly workplace from the research factory will be used to show how interoperability between IoT technology and work design planning tools with virtual reality applications such as ema Work Designer (emaWD) is implemented in a common learning setting. For the procedure, data is to be exchanged in real-time via the specially developed IoT platform between the real workplace and the digital factory twin. Combined systems using open standards are seen as a solution for accelerating the planning process, increasing the involvement of employees in planning and interoperability.