TY - JOUR A1 - Panzer, Marcel A1 - Bender, Benedict A1 - Gronau, Norbert T1 - Neural agent-based production planning and control BT - an architectural review JF - Journal of Manufacturing Systems N2 - Nowadays, production planning and control must cope with mass customization, increased fluctuations in demand, and high competition pressures. Despite prevailing market risks, planning accuracy and increased adaptability in the event of disruptions or failures must be ensured, while simultaneously optimizing key process indicators. To manage that complex task, neural networks that can process large quantities of high-dimensional data in real time have been widely adopted in recent years. Although these are already extensively deployed in production systems, a systematic review of applications and implemented agent embeddings and architectures has not yet been conducted. The main contribution of this paper is to provide researchers and practitioners with an overview of applications and applied embeddings and to motivate further research in neural agent-based production. Findings indicate that neural agents are not only deployed in diverse applications, but are also increasingly implemented in multi-agent environments or in combination with conventional methods — leveraging performances compared to benchmarks and reducing dependence on human experience. This not only implies a more sophisticated focus on distributed production resources, but also broadening the perspective from a local to a global scale. Nevertheless, future research must further increase scalability and reproducibility to guarantee a simplified transfer of results to reality. KW - production planning and control KW - machine learning KW - neural networks KW - systematic literature review KW - taxonomy Y1 - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmsy.2022.10.019 SN - 0278-6125 VL - 65 SP - 743 EP - 766 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Panzer, Marcel A1 - Bender, Benedict A1 - Gronau, Norbert T1 - A deep reinforcement learning based hyper-heuristic for modular production control JF - International journal of production research N2 - In nowadays production, fluctuations in demand, shortening product life-cycles, and highly configurable products require an adaptive and robust control approach to maintain competitiveness. This approach must not only optimise desired production objectives but also cope with unforeseen machine failures, rush orders, and changes in short-term demand. Previous control approaches were often implemented using a single operations layer and a standalone deep learning approach, which may not adequately address the complex organisational demands of modern manufacturing systems. To address this challenge, we propose a hyper-heuristics control model within a semi-heterarchical production system, in which multiple manufacturing and distribution agents are spread across pre-defined modules. The agents employ a deep reinforcement learning algorithm to learn a policy for selecting low-level heuristics in a situation-specific manner, thereby leveraging system performance and adaptability. We tested our approach in simulation and transferred it to a hybrid production environment. By that, we were able to demonstrate its multi-objective optimisation capabilities compared to conventional approaches in terms of mean throughput time, tardiness, and processing of prioritised orders in a multi-layered production system. The modular design is promising in reducing the overall system complexity and facilitates a quick and seamless integration into other scenarios. KW - production control KW - modular production KW - multi-agent system KW - deep reinforcement learning KW - deep learning KW - multi-objective optimisation Y1 - 2023 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2023.2233641 SN - 0020-7543 SN - 1366-588X SN - 0278-6125 SP - 1 EP - 22 PB - Taylor & Francis CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ullrich, André A1 - Weber, Edzard A1 - Gronau, Norbert T1 - Regionale Refabrikationsnetzwerke BT - Potenziale und Herausforderungen der lokalen Wiederaufarbeitung von Produkten JF - Industrie 4.0 Management : Gegenwart und Zukunft industrieller Geschäftsprozesse N2 - Die Herstellung von Produkten bindet Energie sowie auch materielle Ressourcen. Viel zu langsam entwickeln sich sowohl das Bewusstsein der Konsumenten sowie der Produzenten als auch gesetzgebende Aktivitäten, um zu einem nachhaltigen Umgang mit den zur Verfügung stehenden Ressourcen zu gelangen. In diesem Beitrag wird ein lokaler Remanufacturing-Ansatz vorgestellt, der es ermöglicht, den Ressourcenverbrauch zu reduzieren, lokale Unternehmen zu fördern und effiziente Lösungen für die regionale Wieder- und Weiterverwendung von Gütern anzubieten. KW - Refabrikation KW - Regionale Ansätze KW - Remanufacturing Y1 - 2023 U6 - https://doi.org/10.30844/IM_23-2_11-14 SN - 2364-9208 VL - 39 IS - 2 SP - 11 EP - 14 PB - GITO mbH Verlag CY - Berlin ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Panzer, Marcel A1 - Gronau, Norbert T1 - Enhancing economic efficiency in modular production systems through deep reinforcement learning JF - Procedia CIRP N2 - In times of increasingly complex production processes and volatile customer demands, the production adaptability is crucial for a company's profitability and competitiveness. The ability to cope with rapidly changing customer requirements and unexpected internal and external events guarantees robust and efficient production processes, requiring a dedicated control concept at the shop floor level. Yet in today's practice, conventional control approaches remain in use, which may not keep up with the dynamic behaviour due to their scenario-specific and rigid properties. To address this challenge, deep learning methods were increasingly deployed due to their optimization and scalability properties. However, these approaches were often tested in specific operational applications and focused on technical performance indicators such as order tardiness or total throughput. In this paper, we propose a deep reinforcement learning based production control to optimize combined techno-financial performance measures. Based on pre-defined manufacturing modules that are supplied and operated by multiple agents, positive effects were observed in terms of increased revenue and reduced penalties due to lower throughput times and fewer delayed products. The combined modular and multi-staged approach as well as the distributed decision-making further leverage scalability and transferability to other scenarios. KW - modular production KW - production control KW - multi-agent system KW - deep reinforcement learning KW - discrete event simulation Y1 - 2024 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2023.09.229 SN - 2212-8271 VL - 121 SP - 55 EP - 60 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Grum, Marcus A1 - Hiessl, Werner A1 - Maresch, Karl A1 - Gronau, Norbert T1 - Design of a neuronal training modeling language BT - exemplified with the AI-based dynamic GUI adaption JF - AIS-Transactions on enterprise systems N2 - As the complexity of learning task requirements, computer infrastruc- tures and knowledge acquisition for artificial neuronal networks (ANN) is in- creasing, it is challenging to talk about ANN without creating misunderstandings. An efficient, transparent and failure-free design of learning tasks by models is not supported by any tool at all. For this purpose, particular the consideration of data, information and knowledge on the base of an integration with knowledge- intensive business process models and a process-oriented knowledge manage- ment are attractive. With the aim of making the design of learning tasks express- ible by models, this paper proposes a graphical modeling language called Neu- ronal Training Modeling Language (NTML), which allows the repetitive use of learning designs. An example ANN project of AI-based dynamic GUI adaptation exemplifies its use as a first demonstration. KW - AI and business informatics KW - development of AI-based systems KW - AI-based decision support system KW - cooperative AI (human-in-the-loop) KW - process-oriented knowledge acquisition KW - modeling language Y1 - 2021 UR - https://www.aes-journal.com/index.php/ais-tes/article/view/20/18 U6 - https://doi.org/10.30844/aistes.v5i1.20 SN - 1867-7134 VL - 5 IS - 1 PB - GITO-Publ., Verl. für Industrielle Informationstechnik und Organisation CY - Berlin ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Vladova, Gergana A1 - Gronau, Norbert T1 - KI-basierte Assistenzsysteme in betrieblichen Lernprozessen JF - Industrie 4.0 Management : Gegenwart und Zukunft industrieller Geschäftsprozesse N2 - Assistenzsysteme finden im Kontext der digitalen Transformation immer mehr Einsatz. Sie können Beschäftigte in industriellen Produktionsprozessen sowohl in der Anlern- als auch in der aktiven Arbeitsphase unterstützen. Kompetenzen können so arbeitsplatz- und prozessnah sowie bedarfsorientiert aufgebaut werden. In diesem Beitrag wird der aktuelle Forschungsstand zu den Einsatzmöglichkeiten dieser Assistenzsysteme diskutiert und mit Beispielen illustriert. Es werden unter anderem auch Herausforderungen für den Einsatz aufgezeigt. Am Ende des Beitrags werden Potenziale für die zukünftige Nutzung von AS in industriellen Lernprozessen und für die Forschung identifiziert. KW - KI KW - kognitive Assistenzsysteme KW - betriebliche Lernprozesse KW - Weiterbildung Y1 - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.30844/I40M_22-2_11-14 SN - 2364-9216 SN - 2364-9208 VL - 38 IS - 2 SP - 11 EP - 14 PB - GITO mbH Verlag für Industrielle Informationstechnik und Organisation CY - Berlin ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Klippert, Monika A1 - Stolpmann, Robert A1 - Grum, Marcus A1 - Thim, Christof A1 - Gronau, Norbert A1 - Albers, Albert T1 - Knowledge transfer quality improvement BT - the quality enhancement of knowledge transfers in product engineering JF - Procedia CIRP N2 - Developing a new product generation requires the transfer of knowledge among various knowledge carriers. Several factors influence knowledge transfer, e.g., the complexity of engineering tasks or the competence of employees, which can decrease the efficiency and effectiveness of knowledge transfers in product engineering. Hence, improving those knowledge transfers obtains great potential, especially against the backdrop of experienced employees leaving the company due to retirement, so far, research results show, that the knowledge transfer velocity can be raised by following the Knowledge Transfer Velocity Model and implementing so-called interventions in a product engineering context. In most cases, the implemented interventions have a positive effect on knowledge transfer speed improvement. In addition to that, initial theoretical findings describe factors influencing the quality of knowledge transfers and outline a setting to empirically investigate how the quality can be improved by introducing a general description of knowledge transfer reference situations and principles to measure the quality of knowledge artifacts. To assess the quality of knowledge transfers in a product engineering context, the Knowledge Transfer Quality Model (KTQM) is created, which serves as a basis to develop and implement quality-dependent interventions for different knowledge transfer situations. As a result, this paper introduces the specifications of eight situation-adequate interventions to improve the quality of knowledge transfers in product engineering following an intervention template. Those interventions are intended to be implemented in an industrial setting to measure the quality of knowledge transfers and validate their effect. KW - knowledge transfer KW - product generation engineering KW - improvement KW - quality KW - intervention Y1 - 2023 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2023.02.171 SN - 2212-8271 VL - 119 SP - 919 EP - 925 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ullrich, André A1 - Teichmann, Malte A1 - Gronau, Norbert T1 - Fast trainable capabilities in software engineering-skill development in learning factories JF - Ji suan ji jiao yu = Computer Education / Qing hua da xue N2 - The increasing demand for software engineers cannot completely be fulfilled by university education and conventional training approaches due to limited capacities. Accordingly, an alternative approach is necessary where potential software engineers are being educated in software engineering skills using new methods. We suggest micro tasks combined with theoretical lessons to overcome existing skill deficits and acquire fast trainable capabilities. This paper addresses the gap between demand and supply of software engineers by introducing an actionoriented and scenario-based didactical approach, which enables non-computer scientists to code. Therein, the learning content is provided in small tasks and embedded in learning factory scenarios. Therefore, different requirements for software engineers from the market side and from an academic viewpoint are analyzed and synthesized into an integrated, yet condensed skills catalogue. This enables the development of training and education units that focus on the most important skills demanded on the market. To achieve this objective, individual learning scenarios are developed. Of course, proper basic skills in coding cannot be learned over night but software programming is also no sorcery. KW - learning factory KW - programming skills KW - software engineering KW - training Y1 - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/10.16512/j.cnki.jsjjy.2020.12.002 SN - 1672-5913 IS - 12 SP - 2 EP - 10 PB - [Verlag nicht ermittelbar] CY - Bei jing shi ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Thim, Christof A1 - Ullrich, André A1 - Eigelshoven, Felix A1 - Gronau, Norbert A1 - Ritter, Ann-Carolin T1 - Crowdsourcing bei industriellen Innovationen T1 - Crowdsourcing for industrial innovations BT - Lösungsansätze und Herausforderung für KMU BT - solutions and challenges for SMEs JF - Industrie 4.0 Management : Gegenwart und Zukunft industrieller Geschäftsprozesse N2 - Die Innovationstätigkeit im industriellen Umfeld verlagert sich durch die Digitalisierung hin zu Produkt-Service-Systemen. Kleine und mittlere Unternehmen haben sich in ihrer Entwicklungstätigkeit bisher stark auf die Produktentwicklung bezogen. Der Umstieg auf „smarte“ Produkte und die Kopplung an Dienstleistungen erfordert häufig personelle und finanzielle Ressourcen, welche KMU nicht aufbringen können. Crowdsourcing stellt eine Möglichkeit dar, den Innovationsprozess für externe Akteure zu öffnen und Kosten- sowie Geschwindigkeitsvorteile zu realisieren. Bei der Integration von Crowdsourcing-Elementen ist jedoch einigen Herausforderungen zu begegnen. Dieser Beitrag zeigt sowohl die Potenziale als auch die Barrieren einer Crowdsourcing-Nutzung im industriellen Umfeld auf. N2 - Innovation activity in the industrial environment is shifting towards product-service systems as a result of digitalisation. Small and medium-sized enterprises have so far focused their development activities strongly on product development. The switch to “smart” products and the coupling to services often requires personnel and financial resources that SMEs cannot provide. Crowdsourcing is one way of opening up the innovation process to external actors and realising cost and speed advantages. However, the integration of crowdsourcing elements faces several challenges. This article shows both the potentials and the barriers of crowdsourcing in the industrial environment. KW - Crowdsourcing KW - industrielle Innovationen KW - KMU KW - industrial innovation KW - SMEs Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.30844/I40M_20-6_S9-13 SN - 2364-9208 VL - 36 IS - 6 SP - 9 EP - 13 PB - GITO mbH Verlag CY - Berlin ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bender, Benedict A1 - Bertheau, Clementine A1 - Körppen, Tim A1 - Lauppe, Hannah A1 - Gronau, Norbert T1 - A proposal for future data organization in enterprise systems BT - an analysis of established database approaches JF - Information systems and e-business management N2 - The digital transformation sets new requirements to all classes of enterprise systems in companies. ERP systems in particular, which represent the dominant class of enterprise systems, are struggling to meet the new requirements at all levels of the architecture. Therefore, there is an urgent need to reconsider the overall architecture of the systems and address the root of the related issues. Given that many restrictions ERP pose on their adaptability are related to the standardization of data, the database layer of ERP systems is addressed. Since database serve as the foundation for data storage and retrieval, they limit the flexibility of enterprise systems and the chance to adapt to new requirements accordingly. So far, relational databases are widely used. Using a systematic literature approach, recent requirements for ERP systems were identified. Prominent database approaches were assessed against the 23 requirements identified. The results reveal the strengths and weaknesses of recent database approaches. To this end, the results highlight the demand to combine multiple database approaches to fulfill recent business requirements. From a conceptual point of view, this paper supports the idea of federated databases which are interoperable to fulfill future requirements and support business operation. This research forms the basis for renewal of the current generation of ERP systems and proposes to ERP vendors to use different database concepts in the future. KW - database KW - enterprise system KW - ERP system KW - requirements KW - problems KW - future Y1 - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10257-022-00555-6 SN - 1617-9846 SN - 1617-9854 VL - 20 SP - 441 EP - 494 PB - Springer CY - Heidelberg ER -