Expertise

Both, the IFA – Institute of Production Systems and Logistics and the IPH – Institute of Integrated Production Hannover, have many years of experience in the field of factory planning. Within their research projects, the engineers work on topics like energy efficieny, adaptability and process optimization.

To constantly improve factory planning processes, IPH and IFA not only offer seminars on factory planning. The experts also provide support for companies that want to restructure an existing factory or plan a new building. Current customers include Weserland GmbH and Benecke-Kaliko AG.

Research projects of the IPH

Research projects of the IFA

Publications by the IPH

The utilization of simulations for the development of path planning algorithms for autonomous indoor multicopters is of primary importance. It offers a secure and cost-effective setting for the testing and optimization of algorithms. This article considers and examines the currently used simulation options with regard to their suitability for the development of path planning algorithms for autonomous indoor multicopters. The use of autonomous multicopters represents an innovative solution to simplify the process of layout recording and inventories. This article focuses on the voxel-based simulation VSim, developed and named by the author. In light of the extant literature, the article elucidates the simulation environments that are most commonly utilized. Subsequently, a selection of simulations is compared with VSim. The time efficiency and resource usage of the simulation environments are examined based on more than 1,500 test runs. Furthermore, the observations of the test executions are described in detail, and finally, the simulations with all investigated parameters are compared. Additionally, the potential for parallelization is explored and discussed.

Layout, Path planning, Recording, Aircraft, Optimization, Testing

Constantly increasing production volumes and new challenges in production environmentswith the same amount of space are forcing manufacturing companies to deal with the planning of production layouts. The problem often is a non-existent or outdated production layout plan. Autonomous multicopters can help by simplifying layout capture. That's why a voxel-based simulation is investigated to develop and train path planning algorithms with and without artificial intelligence. First, the temporal behavior and the resource utilization of the simulation is investigated. Then, the time factor of simulation is compared to real time and what advantages companies and developers have when using it.

UAS, digital twin, simulation, voxel-based, layout design

The structured and future-orientated planning of factory layouts is an important factor in maintaining a company's competitiveness. The basis for planning is a daily updated recording and visualisation of the factory environment. Current mapping methods require a great deal of manual labour and time for this process, are limited in their flexibility of use and do not represent the process holistically. In this thesis, a novel factory layout recording method using a drone is investigated. Photogrammetric recordings and automated data processing are used to map the recording process holistically and enable planning during the recording. Automation approaches and greater flexibility can be used to make the factory layout recording process more efficient, less costly and more structured.

Factory layout planning, UAV, segmentation, 3D model, automation

Publications by the IFA

This handbook introduces a methodical approach and pragmatic concept for the planning and design of changeable factories that act in strategic alliances to supply the ever-changing needs of the global market.

In the first part, the change drivers of manufacturing enterprises and the resulting new challenges are considered in detail with focus on an appropriate change potential.

The second part concerns the design of the production facilities and systems on the factory levels work place, section, building and site under functional, organisational, architectural and strategic aspects keeping in mind the environmental, health and safety aspects including corporate social responsibility.

The third part is dedicated to the planning and design method that is based on a synergetic interaction of process and space. The accompanying project management of the planning and construction phase and the facility management for the effective utilization of the built premises close the book.

factory planning, factory building, logistics

Die Motivation zur Erstellung dieses Papers entstand aus zahlreichen Diskussionen mit Vertretern produzierender Unternehmen und der unzureichenden Antwort der Wissenschaft auf die Fragestellung, welche Organisationsform die geeignetste für einen spezifischen Anwendungsfall darstellt. Dabei beginnt die Problematik schon bei der reinen Beschreibung der unterschiedlichen Organisationsformen der Produktion. Die in der Literatur bestehenden Systematiken differenzieren zumeist zwischen Fertigung und Montage – und dass unter der Verwendung ähnlicher Begrifflichkeiten bei unterschiedlicher Bedeutung. Dass auf diesem Wege zum einen kein einheitliches Verständnis entstehen und zum anderen keine gezielte Auswahl der für den betrachteten Anwendungsfall geeignetsten Organisationsform erfolgen kann, liegt auf der Hand. Das vorliegende Paper bietet sowohl der Wissenschaft als auch dem praktischen Anwender durch die entwickelte Beschreibungssystematik einen Überblick über mögliche Organisationsformen in der Produktion und damit allgemein eine Beschreibung sowohl der Fertigung als auch Montage. Mit der Variantenmix-Produktion wird zudem eine Organisationsform vorgestellt, die die neuartigen Entwicklungen in der Praxis systematisch beschreibbar macht und somit bei der Ausgestaltung spezifischer Organisationsformen unterstützt. Die hier dargestellte Beschreibungssystematik für die Organisationsformen der Produktion bildet zudem die Grundlagen für weitere Arbeiten am Institut für Fabrikanlagen und Logistik (IFA), die sich auf die Erforschung der Planung und Gestaltung neuartiger Organisationsformen sowie die Auswahl der für einen spezifischen Anwendungsfall geeignetsten Organisationsform aufgrund entsprechender Vor- und Nachteile fokussieren.

Variantenmix-Produktion, Matrix-Produktion, Modulare Montage, Fertigungsprinzip, Montageorganisation, Produktionssysteme

Die synergetische Fabrikplanung dient der Intensivierung der Zusammenarbeit in Fabrikplanungsprojekten. Eine Weiter­entwicklung dieses Vorgehens zur Beherrschung wachsender Datenmengen existiert jedoch bislang nicht. Jenseits der Fabrikplanung hat sich für diese Herausforderung das Building Information Modeling (BIM) etabliert. In diesem Beitrag wird BIM der synergetischen Fabrikplanung gegenübergestellt, um Anforderungen und Potenziale bei der Integration in die Fabrikplanung abzuleiten.

Fabrikplanung, Daten, Building Information Modeling (BIM)

Consulting on factory planning projects

You need support concerning the planning or restructuring of your factory? You want to increase the efficiency of your company and the material flow or shorten processing times? Whether you want to build a new factory or reorganize your existant production facility – we are happy to assist you in any project. Please feel free to contact us!