Adler, RasmusRasmusAdlerOttersböck, NicoleNicoleOttersböckHarlacher, MarkusMarkusHarlacherJeske, TimTimJeskeHumpert, LynnLynnHumpert2025-09-152025-09-152025https://publica.fraunhofer.de/handle/publica/49525010.1515/zwf-2025-10872-s2.0-105014934810The shortage of labor and skilled workers is burdening German industrial companies, and the widespread implementation of Industry 4.0 value creation ideas is nowhere in sight, despite rapid technological advances in the field of autonomous systems. This article examines the potential and safety-related challenges in this context. It highlights current research gaps that the autoWert project aims to investigate and address.The shortage of labor and skilled workers is burdening German industrial companies, and the widespread implementation of Industry 4.0 value creation ideas is nowhere in sight, despite rapid technological advances in the field of autonomous systems. This article examines the potential and safety-related challenges in this context. It highlights current research gaps that the autoWert project aims to investigate and address.defalseAutonomous SystemsOccupational SafetyProduct SafetyShortage of Skilled WorkersSystems of SystemsValue Creationjournal article