To achieve these goals, various strategies for adaptable production systems in vehicle manufacturing will be developed. The implementation and evaluation of the expected increases in adaptability and flexibility are carried out using real, tangible, and comprehensible application examples with a high multiplier effect. In this context, a demonstrator platform is to be established at Fraunhofer IGCV, which will ensure the transfer of knowledge to industry and other research activities. To ensure a consistent provision of information for the employees in assembly for the new work processes, in cooperation with ciplenu work instructions from a developed database will be linked to the production system structure. This assembly assistance system is also prototypically connected to the demonstrator of Fraunhofer IGCV.
Together with Hörmann Rawema, Fraunhofer IGCV has created a digital image of MAN Truck & Bus's assembly system. For this purpose, 196 laser scans and several hundred photos were photogrammetrically processed. Focus processes were then derived using a specially developed methodology for determining adaptation requirements in production. This data is now being transferred to simulation environments to validate transformation scenarios virtually. Software tools are used from the production structure to the process level. The focus processes determine the level at which individual assembly stations are virtually mapped. If no adjustments need to be made to the station, it is only modeled at the structure level. If significant adjustments are required, then the individual assembly steps are modeled in detail at the process level.
Thus, the research project results contribute to Germany's essential competitiveness in the field of electric commercial vehicles. Besides, they thus also lead to job security and a global reduction in CO2 emissions.