Production Engineering Cluster

Digital Connected Production

The Production Engineering Cluster is one of the largest research laboratories for production engineering and Industrie 4.0 in Europe. Science and industry are jointly experimenting with the new possibilities arising from Industrie 4.0 and the Internet of Production (IoP) for the product development process, cyber-physically integrated production and the utilization of products. They also deal with the question of how these can help create a more agile and sustainable production – for more resilient businesses of the future.

Their research focuses mainly on:

• the close-to-real-time simulation of complex production chains based on technological innovations using a digital shadow,
• agile and sustainable product development with innovative business models,
• “learning” factories based on big data usage,
• utilization concepts for cloud-based control technologies to allow full-scope production control, and
• “sustainable productivity” as a new basis for productivity consciousness.

Mission

Collective implementation & further development of the IoP

The availability of data, information, and knowledge anywhere and at any time is seen as a key promise of Industrie 4.0. This is made possible by the so-called Internet of Production (IoP), which makes raw data along the product life cycle usable with the help of a digital shadow. The aim is to plan and intelligently optimize the demand, utilization, development and production of serial goods based on sound data. The Production Engineering Cluster has dedicated itself to the collective implementation and further development of the IoP in an effort to revolutionize production in its entirety.

Vision

More resilience based on agile & sustainable production

The IoP will specifically help in the decision-making and actions process in terms of development and production needs based on actual data-driven demand for production requirements and numbers. Data capture and machine learning allow quick and error-free improvements, raw material and energy savings, and reduced wear and tear on tools and machines. This kind of agile and sustainable production will result in more resilience – i.e. the ability to handle crisis situations and to return to profitability in less time.

Center

• Aachen Center for Integrative Lightweight Production
• Center Fuel Cell Industrialization
• Center Smart Industrial Agriculture
• Center XL Assembly
• Complexity Management Academy
• Global Production Management Center
• Invention Center
• Ramp-Up Factory
• Tooling Academy Aachen

Center in initiation

• Center Smart Sensing Systems

Infrastructure

• Ramp-Up Factory

Cooperation between science & industry

You would like to learn more about the work we do at the Production Engineering Cluster?

White paper “Die Produktionswende”

In the white paper „Die Produktionswende – Turning Data into Sustainability“, the need for a redefinition of the concept of productivity in manufacturing companies, towards a comprehensive view of sustainability is derived.

Success Story e.GO Life

Learn more about the development of e.GO Life and the involved centers in the Production Engineering Cluster.

LinkedIn

Follow the current topics in the Production Engineering Cluster on the LinkedIn profile of RWTH Aachen Campus.