“Intelligent production control in digitalized companies” is the subject of a research project in which the TH Mittelhessen is collaborating with the Philipps University of Marburg. The industrial partner is the Seidel company from Marburg, a leading manufacturer of aluminum design products. Project coordinator is Prof. Dr. Michael Guckert from the Friedberg Department of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Data Processing at THM . The professors from the University of Marburg are Dr. Bernhard Seeger and Dr. Manfred Grauer from the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science was involved. The state of Hesse is funding the project with 490,000 euros.

In the digitized industrial manufacturing process, masses of data are generated that could be used for improved planning and control of production. Medium-sized and small companies in particular have so far made insufficient use of this opportunity offered by digitization. In addition to know-how and IT resources, there is a lack of a suitable range of services.

The scientists are therefore working on an IT architecture that links production, planning and management levels. They want to achieve optimal monitoring of production so that management can continuously monitor the manufacturing process and react flexibly to bottlenecks and delays. The planning process is supported by simulation of the production. The planner has the opportunity to first examine the consequences of certain decisions on the computer.

"The systematic and automated collection of data that is generated directly during manufacture in the production machines enables a more accurate prediction of the actual use of resources. With the help of planning instruments and simulation tools, individual orders or entire production programmes can be calculated in advance. More accurate forecasts of throughput times and deadlines can be derived from the results. The direct effects of such intelligent planning are higher delivery reliability and more efficient utilization of resources in the company," says Guckert.

The project focuses on the needs of medium-sized companies with piece goods production. The partners are planning to set up a company that will market the developed models and basic tools and will offer systems for digitizing production processes and advice on a permanent basis.

The research project runs for two years and has a total volume of more than 800,000 euros. It is supported as part of the Hessian "state offensive for the development of scientific and economic excellence" (Loewe).