UdZ 01.21

Dear Readers, Do theory and practice contradict each other, and are engineering findings therefore not suitable for practical application? We answer this question with a clear “no ” and the work of the FIR proves this for decades. In this issue of “UdZ – The Data-driven Enterprise”, you wi ll learn how science and industry are currently cooperating with each other, how research becomes application and how “ both sides ” benefit from each other under the motto ‘Bridging the Gap between Science and Industry’. In the article of the same name, read more about the FIR ’ s claim and the various cooperation opportunities for companies. We also show how application-oriented research really works and how it bridges the gap between science and industry in a beneficial way. Models and methods, processes and applications connect the seemingly so different worlds. For example, the study “Value Networks in Times of Infectious Crises ” gives companies direct support in preparing for future crises. It was conducted by the FIR and the Industrie 4.0 Maturity Center on behalf of the research advisory board of acatech ’s ‘Plattform Industrie 4.0’. In the same context, the FIR is developing an AI-supported platform in the ‘AIRS’ project that helps companies to identify and observe crisis situations at an early stage and to evaluate response strategies (p. 92 et seqq.). The current development of the business environment not only accelerates change processes in companies, it above all increases the complexity of strategies, organizations and processes. Structured approaches help to unlock this complexity. Read on page 83 how the OKR (Objectives and Key Results) management system can also be used by SMEs and how you, as a small or medium-sized company, can approach the selection and implementation of your project management system in a structured way. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dipl.-Wirt. Ing. Günther Schuh Direktor FIR e. V. an der RWTH Aachen Prof. Dr.-Ing. Volker Stich Geschäftsführer FIR e. V. an der RWTH Aachen Follow us: facebook.fir.de · instagram.fir.de · linkedin.fir.de · twitter.fir. de · youtube.fir.de · xing.fir.de With the increasing volatility of the markets, it is becoming more and more difficult to predict events. In this context, FIR is developing a platform to improve the forecasting capability and increase the capacity utilization of SMEs in the German stone and earth industry (p. 68 et seqq.) and – completely different industry, same forecasting needs – a platform to establish electric mobility in multimodal logistics chains (p. 56 et seqq.). The ‘FLEMING’ project is developing an information logistics concept based on predictive maintenance to ensure that stressed distribution networks remain stable even as e-mobility increases (p. 105 et seqq.). In view of the multitude of new challenges in an ever faster-changing world, in-house entrepreneurial resources easily reach their limits. The aim of numerous research projects is to provide relief in the form of data-based decision-making aids. Data quality is essential in this context: FIR is therefore investigating the extent to which data fusion methods increase the quality of operational feedback data. (Project ‘DaFuER’, p. 76 et seqq.). Robotic Process Automation (RPA), an automation technology for internal administrative processes, is also considered an efficiency lever. The ‘RPAcceptance’ research project (p. 48 et seqq.) looks at how to gain the necessary acceptance among the workforce. The ‘GALA’ project, which examines “Learning and working in the Aachen healthcare region ” and takes a close look at work in the healthcare sector, is concerned with work design and competence management (p. 100 et seqq.). As you can see, research and practice go hand in hand at our company, always with the aim of supporting users in their work and making companies fit for the future. With this in mind, we hope you enjoy reading this stimulating reading.