Browsing by Author "Waibel, M. W."

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    Investigating current smart production innovations in the machine building industry on sustainability aspects
    (Elsevier, 2018) Waibel, M. W.; Oosthuizen, G. A.; Du Toit, D. W.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Driven by the rising demand for individualized high-tech products the machine building industry continuously introduces a wide variety of smart innovations. Manufacturing companies face growing production requirements which can only be only handled by intelligent systems. During the last decades the trend in manufacturing has shifted from the classic mass production to complex individualized products which have to be produced to compete with the costs of mass products. Smart Production Systems are characterized by its flexibility, resource efficiency, ergonomic design and the ability to integrate customer and business partner into the value creation process. This research study investigates current smart production innovations and trends in the machine building industry. The sustainability aspects and the potential of various smart innovations are outlined.
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    Investigating the effects of smart production systems on sustainability elements
    (Elsevier, 2017) Waibel, M. W.; Steenkamp, L. P.; Moloko, N.; Oosthuizen, G. A.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The next generation of manufacturing systems will be self-organising. Networking of cyber-physical equipment and machinery are on the rise. In the field of sustainable manufacturing, an increasing level of computerisation is used to face the growing production requirements. Smart production systems will foster opportunities from its artificial intelligence to create value within the business and the community it operates. Smart production systems will integrate the virtual and physical worlds on these Internet of Things (IoT) platforms to ensure flexibility and resource efficiency. This research study investigated the dynamics of the next industrial revolution (Industrie 4.0) and used case studies on the market, suppliers and customers as benchmark to identify current trends. The technical, economic, social and environmental elements of possible smart innovations were evaluated in terms of resource efficiency. Prerequisites for tooling companies to use smart production systems were discovered. Future work was also discussed.