Competence Development for the Holistic Design of Collaborative Work Systems in the Logistics Learning Factory

Abstract

Shorter product life cycles and emerging technologies in the field of industrial equipment are changing the prerequisites and circumstances under which the design of assembly and logistics systems takes place. Planners have to adapt the production in accordance with the underlying product at a higher pace, oversee a more complex system and – most importantly – find the ideal solution for functional as well as social interaction between humans and machines in a cyber-physical system. Such collaborative work systems consider the individual capabilities and potentials of humans and machines to combine them in a manner that assists the operator during his daily work routine towards more productive, less burdening work. To be able to design work systems which act on that maxim, specific competences such as the ability of integrated process and product planning as well as systems and interface competence are required. The ESB Logistics Learning Factory trains students as well as professionals to gain such qualification by providing a close-to-reality learning environment based on a didactical concept which covers all relevant methods for ergonomic work system design and a state-of-the-art infrastructure composed of an manual assembly system, service robots, visual assistance systems, sensor-based work load monitoring and logistical resources. Group-based, activity oriented scenarios enable the participants to put the learnings into practice within their professional environments. By this, Learning Factories have an indirect impact on the transfer of proven best practices to the industry and thereby on the diffusion of the idea of a human-centric working environment.