Berlin, 19 November 2015. Intelligent data goggles which guide assembly staff through individual production steps, an online store which enables customers to construct foam inserts via a smartphone app, and the world’s first pan-manufacturer Industrie 4.0 plant: Those are just three of the more than 200 Industrie 4.0 example applications and testbeds now shown on the new Plattform Industrie 4.0 online map at www.plattform-i40.de/I40/Landkarte. The federal minister for economic affairs and energy, Sigmar Gabriel, presented the map with other members of the platform’s management team at the National IT Summit in Berlin.

“Germany is an international leader in the implementation of Industrie 4.0. This is shown by the many example applications and testbeds on the Plattform Industrie 4.0 online map. They demonstrate what is possible with digitised manufacturing today and why investing in digitisation is worthwhile. Small and medium-sized enterprises in particular need assistance in this respect and coordinated access to the new technologies. By initiating a change in thinking, inspiring and assisting, Plattform Industrie 4.0 aims to support companies throughout Germany on their way through the fourth industrial revolution. The platform’s findings and recommendations as well as the overview of example applications and testbeds provided by the online map help us to follow this path together and successfully,” said Minister Gabriel.

The map features examples, applications and offers from the world of Industrie 4.0 in the various areas of product design, production engineering, manufacturing, logistics and service. It also features testbeds in which Industrie 4.0 applications can be researched, tested and refined. For small and medium-sized enterprises in particular, these testbeds are valuable facilities that enable Industrie 4.0 requirements to be tested – without the need to invest beforehand in what is usually costly research infrastructure. “We have started Industrie 4.0 projects at more than 500 research sites in Germany. Our research reaches and helps SMEs in particular to access networked manufacturing. They need to be able to test new ideas and technologies in a practical setting to ensure they are fit for Industrie 4.0. This is what the testbeds are for. These first-class testing platforms are being built in Germany and need to be used more intensively by the companies,” said Johanna Wanka, the federal minister of education and research.

This is complemented by specific advisory services and “Praxisinitiative Industrie 4.0”, an initiative established by companies and associations.

Demonstrator lets Industrie 4.0 be experienced live
“It will be some time until the vision of Industrie 4.0 has been achieved. However, we can already show that Industrie 4.0 solutions are being used in many different variations for the benefit of the operators and their customers,” said Russwurm. Using the Industrie 4.0 demonstrator, he illustrated “typical” digitised manufacturing scenarios: a transport system which intelligently adapts to changes without the need for manual intervention; an individualised manufacturing process with processing times and steps that adapt automatically to the products being transported on the cart; and a cloud service that enables the status of production plants to be monitored remotely. Chancellor Merkel was among the numerous visitors drawn to Deutsche Telekom, Festo, SAP and Siemens’ joint exhibit. Visitors were able to explore the new online map on a screen.

Between classic manufacturing and new services
Plattform Industrie 4.0 experts discuss the digitisation of the economy
What is Plattform Industrie 4.0’s focus? How can companies bring their employees with them on the road to Industrie 4.0? These and other questions formed the focus of a panel discussion held by Plattform Industrie 4.0 and the platform “Innovative Digitalisierung”. “The innovation is not the technology itself, but the benefits it has for users. That is why Plattform Industrie 4.0 focuses less on the technology and more on finding solutions to the challenges faced by the manufacturing industry. It explores the various roles in the value network – from both the user and provider’s perspective,” said Russwurm.

“A key question for Plattform Industrie 4.0 is: What does this mean for the world of work? Companies and politicians need to realise that training and the way work is organised are key strategic factors for the successful implementation of Industrie 4.0. They must pave the way. New learning methods and processes in increasingly integrated value chains and networks can make access easier for all. However, this will not happen by itself and nor will people-friendly working practices. Participation is a necessary precondition for a successful digital transformation in Germany,” said Jörg Hofmann, chairman of IG Metall.

At the expert forum “Plattform Industrie 4.0 – Shaping change together”, Parliamentary State Secretary Brigitte Zypries (Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy) and State Secretary Dr. Georg Schütte (Federal Ministry of Education and Research) joined experts from Plattform Industrie 4.0 to discuss digitally networked industry in Germany. Representatives from politics, associations and companies discussed the vision for the fourth industrial revolution, progress on its implementation in Germany, and the next steps on the road to the industry of tomorrow. Visitors to the forum also learned about the work and heads of the Plattform Industrie 4.0 working groups.

A total of nine platforms, including Plattform Industrie 4.0, presented their work on key aspects of a digitally networked economy in Germany at the ninth National IT Summit, which was entitled “Shaping the digital future – innovative_secure_efficient”.

About Plattform Industrie 4.0
Plattform Industrie 4.0 is the central alliance for the coordination of the digital structural transition in German industry. The platform unites all of the stakeholders in Industrie 4.0 from business, associations, trade unions, academia and politics, enabling them to combine forces and knowledge. As a national and international hub, the platform supports German companies, and SMEs in particular, in implementing Industrie 4.0. The platform provides strong im-petus through practical examples from businesses nationwide, concrete recommendations for action and testbeds.