Smart Production network drives digitalization in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region
PTA involved in the development of the Smart Production Demonstrator
The management consultancy PTA GmbH has been an integral part of the “Smart Production” expert network since the beginning of 2020. As a contribution to digitalization in production, the working group recently developed a smart production demonstrator that illustrates the processes of a digital factory in a model. The Industry 4.0 cluster was launched in Mannheim on the initiative of the Department of Economic and Structural Development in cooperation with the Rhine-Neckar district and now brings together around 50 partners. The network pursues three objectives: Promoting innovation through cooperation, transferring knowledge from research institutions in the metropolitan region and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
“The digital transformation is certainly one of the greatest economic and cultural challenges of our time. In this respect, I am delighted that the PTA is actively involved in the development of pioneering digital solutions as part of this Industry 4.0 cluster. Our experts are thus making an important value contribution to the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region becoming a national hotspot for digitalization and the fourth industrial revolution,” says Dr. Tim Walleyo, Managing Director of management consultancy PTA GmbH, commenting on the objectives of the “Smart Production” expert network.
Smart Production Demonstrator shows steps in digital value creation
With the development of the Smart Production Demonstrator, the Industry 4.0 Cluster is setting an important milestone on the path to the digital factory. This is because the demonstrator seamlessly depicts the value creation stages of a manufacturing company – from the customer order in the web store to the packaging of the finished product. To do this, he simulates the production of an intelligent sensor cube and runs through the following scenario: A customer customizes an intelligent sensor cube in an online store. The order and configuration of the sensor cube result in individually defined properties of the production process. A worker then goes into action in the digital factory, who pre-assembles the cubes by accessing a smart shelf. In the next step, these pre-assembled parts are handed over to a collaborative robot called YuMi from ABB, which grips them, attaches them firmly together and glues the plastic housing. The finished cube leaves production and the shipping process is initiated. All production steps are fully automated using Robot Process Automation (RPA). Large screens virtually depict the entire production process in the model, impressively demonstrating the potential of virtual production.
PTA experts map central processes using a cloud platform
As part of the development of the Smart Production Demonstrator, PTA’s IT experts, under the project management of Dr. Frank Gredel, Head of Digital Transformation Consulting, and Natalia Rain, Digital Transformation Consultant, will ensure that all customer-related processes can be mapped using an IT cloud platform together with the necessary customer experience solution. In future, the demonstrator will handle all marketing, sales and service processes via the SAP C/4HANA cloud solution. According to Dr. Gredel, participating in this pioneering project is paying off: “The establishment of such an innovative network is of great importance – for the metropolitan region as a business location and for us at PTA by contributing our proven expertise as process consultants and digitalization experts.” In addition, PTA can freely approach partners and thus potential customers within this alliance, especially as the Industry 4.0 cluster with the Smart Production Demonstrator will provide convincing arguments for manufacturing companies to take the step into the digital factory in the future.
“With access to the Smart Production Demonstrator at the MAFINEX technology center in Mannheim, we have a powerful acquisition tool at our disposal. We will be able to invite our customers there in future and present the diverse value creation processes of digital production to them in a very practical way, as well as demonstrating our expertise in this area,” summarizes project manager Dr. Gredel with satisfaction.
About the “Smart Production” network
As a powerful Industry 4.0 cluster, the alliance now brings together around 50 partners from innovative start-ups to manufacturing SMEs, IT companies, universities and global players from the entire Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region. The project is consistently aimed at practical relevance. In a strong alliance, the partners jointly develop application-oriented technology projects and effective implementation processes for the world of tomorrow.
