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Industry 4.0, a term invented by Wolfgang Wahlster in Germany, is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2021. Still, the digitalization of the production environment is one of the hottest topics in the computer science departments at universities and companies. Optimization of production processes or redefinition of the production concepts is meaningful in light of the current industrial and research agendas. Both the mentioned optimization and redefinition are considered in numerous subtopics and technologies. One of the most significant topics in these areas is the newest findings and applications of artificial intelligence (AI)—machine learning (ML) and deep convolutional neural networks (DCNNs). The authors invented a method and device that supports the wiring assembly in the control cabinet production process, namely, the Wire Label Reader (WLR) industrial system. The implementation of this device was a big technical challenge. It required very advanced IT technologies, ML, image recognition, and DCNN as well. This paper focuses on an in-depth description of the underlying methodology of this device, its construction, and foremostly, the assembly industrial processes, through which this device is implemented. It was significant for the authors to validate the usability of the device within mentioned production processes and to express both advantages and challenges connected to such assembly process development. The authors noted that in-depth studies connected to the effects of AI applications in the presented area are sparse. Further, the idea of the WLR device is presented while also including results of DCNN training (with recognition results of 99.7% although challenging conditions), the device implementation in the wire assembly production process, and its users' opinions. The authors have analyzed how the WLR affects assembly process time and energy consumption, and accordingly, the advantages and challenges of the device. Among the most impressive results of the WLR implementation in the assembly process one can be mentioned—the device ensures significant process time reduction regardless of the number of characters printed on a wire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digitalization of production environment, also called Industry 4.0 (the term invented by Wahlster Wolfgang in Germany) is now one of the hottest topics in the computer science departments at universities and companies. One of the most significant topics in this area is augmented reality (AR). The interest in AR has grown especially after the introduction of the Microsoft HoloLens in 2016, which made this technology available for researchers and developers all around the world. It is divided into numerous subtopics and technologies. These wireless, see-through glasses give a very natural human-machine interface, with the possibility to present certain necessary information right in front of the user's eyes as 3D virtual objects, in parallel with the observation of the real world, and the possibility to communicate with the system by simple gestures and speech. Scientists noted that in-depth studies connected to the effects of AR applications are presently sparse. In the first part of this paper, the authors recall the research from 2019 about the new method of manual wiring support with the AR glasses. In the second part, the study (tests) for this method carried out by the research team is described. The method was applied in the actual production environment with consideration of the actual production process, which is manual wiring of the industrial enclosures (control cabinets). Finally, authors deliberate on conclusions, technology's imperfections, limitations, and future possible development of the presented solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The main magnetic field of Wendelstein 7-X fusion experiment (W7-X) at Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik Greifswald, Germany will be provided by 50 non-planar coils and supported by 20 planar coils. The non-planar coils were delivered by a consortium (CON) consisting of Babcock Noell GmbH Germany (BNG) and ASG Superconductors S.p.A. Italy (ASG). The coil production ended with the delivery of the last non-planar coil in March 2008 at the manufacturing branch of BNG in Zeitz, Germany. The construction of the coils was characterised by design changes, many rework actions and resulting time delays. Due to these numerous adjustments and changes a continuous improvement process was needed. This paper will give an overview about the transition of the non-planar coils from the acceptance tests at the manufacturer site to the beginning of the assembly at IPP. Furthermore this report will highlight technical interfaces in the period of transition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A field study in an automotive supply industry company was conducted to explore age-differentiated strain of assembly line workers. Subjective and objective data from 23 female workers aged between 27 and 57 years were collected at the workplace belt buckle assembly during morning shifts. Subjects with medication or chronic diseases affecting heart rate and breath rate were excluded. For subjective data generation different questionnaires were used. Before the Work Ability Index and the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire were completed by the subjects. Short questionnaires (strain-ratings, NASA-TLX) directly at begin and end of the work were used for obtaining shift-related data. During the whole shift (6 a.m. - 2.45 p.m.) bodily functions were logged with a wireless chest strap. In addition, the motion of the hand-arm-system was recorded for 30 times, 3 minutes each after a fixed time-schedule. First results show that younger subjects need significant less time for assembly (mean = 14.940 s) compared to older subjects (mean = 17.040 s; t(472.026) = -9.278 , p <> [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today's automakers are under an enormous price and cost pressure arising from both increasing competition and complexity of operations. One way to deal with this challenge is to outsource value creation to the supply network (SN), which then assumes the responsibility for producing variant-specific modules and delivering them just-in-sequence (JIS). This results in tightly coupled buyer–supplier relationships that operate with short reaction times and are characterized by high time dependency and minimal buffers. It increases the risk exposure of buyers to disturbances in their SNs and failures propagate quickly, causing production disruptions. Based on data collected at 14 car-manufacturing plants located in Germany, this research provides an overview and exploratory evidence of current JIS market practice and proposes ways of actively managing the risks inherent in JIS SNs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]