Faster from brown paper to digital model
The new brochure ‘KIckstart für die intelligente Produktion’ (A Quick Start for Intelligent Production), published by Technologieland Hessen, highlights the potential and possible applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in production. It offers manufacturing companies practical knowledge and shows how AI can be used to optimise processes and enable innovative value creation. The brochure, created in cooperation with partners such as KompAKI and the Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Darmstadt, is available to download free of charge and is aimed particularly at small and medium-sized companies.
Contribution by Prof. Dr. Sven Spieckermann (Speaker of the Executive Board, CEO SimPlan AG)
The digitalisation of value stream mapping, a central method for optimising production processes, is being revolutionised thanks to artificial intelligence (AI). What previously had to be done by laborious manual work is now automated by a new, AI-based image recognition – a significant advance in industry.
The ‘KompAKI’ project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has shown how the digitalisation of value streams is simplified by AI. Traditionally, value stream maps are created in on-site workshops on large sheets of brown paper and then manually traced in software – a time-consuming and error-prone process. With the help of the AI developed as part of the research project, these value streams can now be digitised directly from a photograph.
Faster from brown paper to digital model
In a collaboration between the Institute for Production Management, Technology and Machine Tools (PTW) at the Technical University of Darmstadt and the simulation specialist SimPlan AG, a demonstrator for AI-supported value stream analysis was developed. By using AI technologies, analogue value stream maps can now be integrated directly into digital simulation software. This not only saves time, but also minimises sources of error.
A concrete application example is shown by the SimVSM software from SimPlan, which is used to simulate digital value streams. This enables companies to identify optimisation potential and increase the efficiency of their production processes.
Data as the key to success
The basis for the success of the AI application is an extensive collection of value stream maps that serve as training data. Sieben, a Hanau-based company specialising in value stream optimisation, supported the project by providing valuable templates and training value streams.
Vision for the future and benefits of AI technology
According to Prof. Dr. Sven Spieckermann, CEO of SimPlan AG, the project impressively demonstrates how AI can be used as a key technology in the field of digital factories. ‘With this AI-based extension, we have created promising potential for our simulation software and expect additional market opportunities as a result,’ explains Spieckermann.
The AI-supported value stream analysis not only makes economic and ecological sense, but also relieves employees of unsatisfactory tasks such as the manual digitisation of value streams. This is a clear benefit for companies that rely on lean management.
You can find more information here.
