Production strategies through the years

The fourth industrial revolution has already generated a great deal of philosophical discussion in countless magazines. We don't wish to engage in this here, as you’re surely aware of these milestones.

Yet since the "third revolution", very many things in production have also changed, starting with rigid line production and CIM (computer-integrated manufacturing), followed by lean management, which has continued up to the present and is now supported by IT. At SEW-EURODRIVE we therefore also talk about the lean smart factory.

In the context of digitalization in production, we too at SEW-EURODRIVE have thought very carefully about how we can make our work for our customers faster and more customized and add value. The result is our 2030 production philosophy – as you can see, we like to think ahead.

In this process, we see the following technical developments that will also gradually shape our production plants:

• Production units are being networked globally and organizing themselves to carry out orders.
• The real and virtual worlds are converging
• Machines are making decisions autonomously
• Devices are communicating with each other independently
• Systems can be adapted to changes in product or production needs in next to no time.
• Like an invisible neural network, automation technology is linking up the entire production system.
• Machines and equipment are becoming abstract objects that are handled and tested in models before being manufactured and installed.

The intelligent SEW-EURODRIVE factory of the future has a modular design. It is a segmented factory and consists of loosely linked small factory units (factories within the factory) optimized in line with lean principles. The individual work stations are process modules that are networked intelligently with each other by assistants (CPS systems). People, things, processes, services and data – everything is networked with each other.

The aim is to increase productivity in the collaboration between people and technology. Intelligent products/objects equipped with embedded systems, QR codes and RFID chips maneuver themselves through the smart factory. Standardized interfaces and cutting-edge information technology enable highly flexible, automated production of even single units on a "plug & play" basis.

• More about our show case factory