Production and Environment

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft

© Dirk Mahler/Fraunhofer IFF

Production processes

All manufacturers are looking for shorter processing times, faster logistics and new technologies with the aim of optimizing production processes and work flows. In order to stay competitive they need to cut costs, streamline procedures, shorten production start-up times, improve department organization, and optimize production methods. Modern information technology can be a decisive help. Computer-assisted methods, modeling tools and software provide the necessary development, planning and production control support.

Projects

  • Quality control at the point of a finger

    link: picture download

    For production operations, quality assurance over the process chain is indispensible: it is the only way to detect problems at an early stage and lower additional costs. Fraunhofer researchers developed an efficient type of quality control: With a pointing gesture, employees can input any detected defects to car body parts into the inspection system, and document them there.

  • Swarming and Transporting

    Link: Download picture

    On its own, an ant is not particularly clever. But in a community, the insects can solve complicated tasks. Researchers intend to put this „swarm intelligence“ to use in the logistics field. Lots of autonomous transport shuttles would provide an alternative to traditional materials-handling technology.

  • Digital Factory: Products, processes and optimization

    Digitale Produktion

    The research group »Digital Factory« focuses on research, development and applying the methods, instruments and tools for modeling, simulation, visualization and optimization of products, factories, manufacturing resources and processes.