Issue
N° 02 / 2019
Lean is Queen & Digital is King
Lean is currently experiencing a veritable renaissance. And this should come as no surprise.
Dear Readers,
Lean is both a philosophy and a recipe for commercial success. These days, subjecting the status quo to critical scrutiny plays a more fundamental role than ever before. We have been gradually streamlining processes for many years, meaning that large parts of our production capabilities can be operated efficiently without the need for extensive IT support networks. But digitalization is now increasingly taking hold within production systems. A contradiction? Not in the slightest. Lean and digitalization are inextricably linked, as processes can only be digitalized if they have first been put under the microscope. This is the only way to harness the full potential of digitalization. No digitalization without lean. That’s why lean is queen. And digital is king.
But let’s not forget the most important point in this regard: we need to show courage. The courage to consider processes and interfaces from a whole new perspective and the courage to break new ground and bid farewell to old ways of thinking. This may sound trite, but it isn’t. Redefining the existing logic behind value creation and production requires joint solutions. And in order to reach consensus, there has to be an exchange of views. This is where the Ingenics Magazine comes in, so get ready for new ideas that offer food for thought and spark inspiration.
I hope you enjoy reading the magazine and sharing your ideas with colleagues, business partners, and with us.
Sincerely yours,
Andreas Hoberg
Lean is both a philosophy and a recipe for commercial success. These days, subjecting the status quo to critical scrutiny plays a more fundamental role than ever before. We have been gradually streamlining processes for many years, meaning that large parts of our production capabilities can be operated efficiently without the need for extensive IT support networks. But digitalization is now increasingly taking hold within production systems. A contradiction? Not in the slightest. Lean and digitalization are inextricably linked, as processes can only be digitalized if they have first been put under the microscope. This is the only way to harness the full potential of digitalization. No digitalization without lean. That’s why lean is queen. And digital is king.
But let’s not forget the most important point in this regard: we need to show courage. The courage to consider processes and interfaces from a whole new perspective and the courage to break new ground and bid farewell to old ways of thinking. This may sound trite, but it isn’t. Redefining the existing logic behind value creation and production requires joint solutions. And in order to reach consensus, there has to be an exchange of views. This is where the Ingenics Magazine comes in, so get ready for new ideas that offer food for thought and spark inspiration.
I hope you enjoy reading the magazine and sharing your ideas with colleagues, business partners, and with us.
Sincerely yours,
Andreas Hoberg
Our key themes in this issue
Lean Is Queen and Digital Is King
“Lean is the ideal foundation for successful digitalization” – a commentary by Andreas Hoberg, CSO of Ingenics AG.
Page
06
Turned on Its Head
What will tomorrow's production be like? An interview with Professor Oliver Herkommer, CEO of Ingenics AG.
Page
18
The Round Factory
The factory of the future calls old certainties into question.
Page
20
Swarm Assembly vs. Continuous Flow
An interview with Michael Weis, the inventor of swarm assembly.
Page
22
The following articles may also be part of this issue
10
Not All Lean Is the Same
An update on production processes in Japan by Professor Parissa Haghirian.
12
Smart and Streamlined 4.0
How to boost efficiency and transparency within the production process.
14
Production Cockpit 4.0
The shop floor management of the future makes it easier to keep track of data.
26
Optimizing through Play
Building toy cars to illustrate and implement the effects of lean and digitalization.
28
Managing Documents the Smart Way
A modular workflow in the field of document management offers huge potential for increasing efficiency.
30
Hype or Hope?
Digitalization vs. qualification: experts evaluate the latest developments in logistics and production.
32
Best Practices for More Inspiration
Digital Hub Logistics in Hamburg: at this testing ground for new ideas, the topics of digitalization and lean take center stage.
34
Intralogistics Cockpit 4.0
Everything at your fingertips: a software program that boosts transparency in order to increase performance levels in logistics.
36
Measurements That Give the Full Picture
A digital twin platform that sets new standards of transparency.
38
A New Level of Security
Ingenics commits to DIN ISO 27001 certification for improved quality in the area of information systems.