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Nowadays manufacturing companies are facing many different challenges as they are finding themselves in a dynamic and complex environment. Industrie 4.0 and its principles can help to manage these challenges. For example, companies should follow a principle called continuity of engineering. This continuity enables parallel development and production planning. One important measure to allow a continuity of engineering is the appropriate integration of IT (Information Technology) and OT (Operational Technology) within the company as well as along the whole value chain. Meant is the networking of machines and plant equipment with IT systems. The management of information resources for example allows data based decisions. Therefore, companies need to have a profound knowledge about the relationship between the integration and information processing of information systems.
There is a common understanding that a certain degree of IT and OT integration highly depends on the company’s typology, which we found out can be represented by the company’s business model. Therefore, we developed a methodology to identify the company’s business model and to derive relevant success factors, both based on a workshop-concept. Based on expert interviews, this enabled us to link the business model or company’s typology with the most important information management principles.
Especially in SMEs of the manufacturing industry, data is not sufficiently used to optimize processes. Some companies have implemented lighthouse “Industrie 4.0 projects”, but struggle with a broader approach. We present the results of a survey we performed that underlines that statement. There are approaches in the literature that propose generic architecture frameworks tackling the mentioned challenge. Still, most of them do not include the existing IT architecture of a company and fail to propose a comprehensive solution delivering a real benefit to companies. Therefore, companies cannot easily use them. For that reason, we developed and tested an Industrie 4.0 software platform architecture companies can use as a blueprint for their own implementation. This architecture is presented in this paper as well as the structured VDI 2221 approach we used to develop it.
Assessment of IS Integration Efforts to Implement the Internet of Production Reference Architecture
(2018)
As part of a collaborative network, manufacturing companies are required to be agile and accelerate their decision making. To do so, a high amount of data is available and needs to be utilized. To enable this from a company internal information system perspective, the Internet of Production (IoP) describes a future information system (IS) architecture. Core element of the IoP is a digital platform building the basis for a network of cognitive systems. To implement and continuously further develop the IoP, manufacturing companies need to make architecture-related decisions concerning the accessibility of data, the processing of the data as well as the visualization of the information. The goal of this research is the development of a decision-support methodology to make those decisions, taking under consideration the evaluated IS integration effort. Therefore, this paper describes the allocation of IS functions and identifies the effort drivers for the respective IS integration by analyzing the integration possibilities. Conclusively this approach will be validated in a case study.
Management of information and the IT systems it is stored in becomes a crucial capability for the industry. However, companies are struggling with the management of the various requirements and frequent changes of technology. Thus, IT complexity has become a major challenge for companies. At the same time, especially manufacturing companies are striving to implement Industrie 4.0 concepts. Many of these even have developed an Industrie 4.0 roadmap including various projects to change the company. Companies can develop such roadmaps by applying the Industrie 4.0 Maturity Index that gives a broad view on necessary capabilities for Industrie 4.0.
In our research, we analyzed data sets from over 10 manufacturing companies that have performed an Industrie 4.0 maturity assessment. Our hypothesis was that IT complexity challenges are hindering the implementation of Industrie 4.0 roadmaps significantly. We could prove this hypothesis at least for the companies analyzed and give insights on the specific challenges. Based on our analysis, we conclude our article by giving concrete recommendations on how to tackle IT complexity.
In the age of digitalization, IT strategies are becoming increasingly important. This is due to the fact that corporate IT is the key enabler of digitalization. In many companies, however, corporate IT is not well-aligned with the overall organizational strategy, preventing it from providing the best possible value for the different organizational units. A major challenge is posed by what we term IT complexity, which reduces efficiency and generates high costs for the corporate IT department.
This white paper outlines solutions for companies facing this issue. First, we provide an overview of the relevant terms and highlight the challenges confronting enterprises today. Central to this paper, we describe a four-step approach for the design development of an IT strategy. We introduce various tools with which to assess the current situation and identify relevant aspects of the business environment. Subsequently we outline an approach to strategy formulation and describe tools for strategy implementation and monitoring. Finally, an outlook into the future highlights what companies need to do to thrive into the future.
Strategieentwicklung
(2022)
Ziele zur Erneuerung und Optimierung bestehender Geschäftsmodelle und Unternehmensprozesse durch den Einsatz digitaler Technologien benötigen strategische Leitplanken, welche im Rahmen des Strategieentwicklungsprozesses definiert werden müssen. Diese manifestieren sich in einer Digitalisierungsstrategie. Über die Digitalisierungsstrategie hinaus muss die taktische und operative Planung hinsichtlich der Bereitstellung von Informationen und Informationstechnologien berücksichtigt werden. Hierfür ist die Formulierung oder Anpassung einer IT-Strategie notwendig. Durch diese integrale Betrachtung von Digitalisierungs- und IT-Strategie ist es möglich, Zielbilder und Teilstrategien für die Digitalisierung und die daran ausgerichtete Unternehmens-IT zu wichtigen Aspekten wie IT-Infrastruktur, Informationssysteme, Partner- oder Sourcing-Strategie zu entwickeln. Das Kapitel beschreibt ein strukturiertes Vorgehen für diese Strategieentwicklung. Dieses beinhaltet die Erfassung des Ist-Zustands, die Formulierung von Zielen und Umsetzungsprojekten. (Quelle: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-662-63758-6_6)
IT-Strategien werden im Digitalisierungszeitalter immer wichtiger, da die Unternehmens-IT die Unternehmen erst für die Digitalisierung befähigt. In vielen Unternehmen steht die Unternehmens-IT jedoch nicht mit der Unternehmensstrategie im Einklang und kann so den Fachbereichen keinen optimalen Mehrwert liefern. Eine große Herausforderung dabei ist die IT-Komplexität, welche Effizienz verhindert und in der Unternehmens-IT mitunter hohe Kosten verursacht.
Dieses Whitepaper enthält hierzu konkrete Lösungen für Unternehmen. Dazu geben wir zuerst einen Überblick über die relevanten Begriffe und legen dar, vor welchen Herausforderungen Unternehmen heute stehen. Zentraler Teil des Whitepapers ist die Beschreibung eines vierschrittigen Vorgehens zur Gestaltung einer IT-Strategie. Wir stellen verschiedene Werkzeuge vor, mit denen der Ist-Stand und relevante Aspekte des Umfeldes erhoben werden können. Es wird ein Vorgehen zur Formulierung der Strategie und Werkzeuge zur Umsetzung der Strategie und Überwachung dieser Umsetzung beschrieben. Ein Blick in die Zukunft zeigt auf, worauf Unternehmen künftig achten müssen.
IT-Strategien gestalten
(2019)
Oft scheitert jene aber schon an einer fehlenden Ausrichtung an der Unternehmensstrategie und an der IT-Komplexität, die Effizienz verhindert und mitunter hohe Kosten verursacht. Um diese Herausforderungen meistern zu können, ist es unabdingbar, eine unternehmensindividuelle IT-Strategie zu entwickeln. Damit dieses Vorhaben leichter und besser gelingen kann, hat das FIR ein Whitepaper zu diesem Thema veröffentlicht.
Der Sondermaschinenbauer HAHN GROUP befindet sich auf internationalem Expansionskurs. Mit Unterstützung des FIR an der RWTH Aachen hat die HAHN GROUP nun ihren IT- und Digitalisierungsbereich, der aufgrund der Expansion eine Reorganisation benötigte, neu aufgestellt und damit eine internationale Standardisierung der internen Prozesse erreicht.
Ziel der Zusammenarbeit war die Schaffung flexibler und gleichzeitig standardisierter, standortunabhängiger IT-Strukturen.