Production Research: Solutions Made in Germany for Production and Close-to-Production Services

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Industrial production is always undergoing fundamental changes. Organizing goods production on a global scale is easier than a few years ago as the flows of goods, information and capital have become closely networked in the process of globalization. Information and communications technology facilitates the coordination and control of distributed production facilities. Production conditions have become a crucial factor in competition, and the manufacturing of products is therefore subject to an enormously increasing pricing pressure. At the same time, demand patterns are changing. Buyers rely on faster product changes and demand products which are increasingly targeted to individual needs.
The need for resource-conserving, sustainable economic activity requires entirely new production conditions: Dynamic markets and increasingly individualized products and services offer good prospects for companies which are able to adapt to these changes at an early stage. Adaptation requires a high degree of flexibility not only in production but also in terms of technologies, processes, resources, and structures. The BMBF is supporting the active shaping of these changes and the development of new production technologies.

Competitive goods production in Germany relies on highly qualified experts, and in particular on a high degree of automation. Production research develops processes, equipment and production facilities. Its results are particularly important in mechanical and plant engineering because the products of these two industries determine the performance of other branches.

Competitive production and the production of demand-oriented products require the combination of humans and ideas, processes and equipment, production-oriented services, materials and capital. Germany's efficient research and education infrastructure provides good conditions, for example in the "Production" collaboration of the Fraunhofer Society or in the university institutes of the Academic Society for Production Engineering (WGP).

Results of basic research in areas such as information technology, nanotechnology, new materials or microsystems are taken up by production technology to meet the demands of industrial production. Production technology therefore comprises four fields of action:

• Market orientation and strategic product planning
• Production methods and production equipment
• Cooperation between manufacturing companies
• People in adaptable companies.

Exemplary Solutions for Sustainable Production in Germany

The BMBF supports research on new production technologies with the aim of developing model solutions for sustainable production in Germany and providing research results for broad use particularly in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This is to contribute to securing employment and prosperity in Germany and Europe. After all, the manufacturing sector is among the most important business sectors in Germany with over 5 million workers in around 22,000 businesses in Germany in 2011. The German manufacturing industry is in a leading position with its export share of roughly 46 per cent.

In the framework concept "Research for Tomorrow's Production", which was designed as a learning programme, research needs are taken up rapidly and directly, following talks with experts in enterprises and research institutions, associations and trade unions. The research topics, such as resource efficiency in production, efficiently developed innovative products, electro mobility or intelligent networking in production, are announced in calls for proposals. The best consortiums of science and industry resulting from these ideas competitions receive funding from the BMBF which covers up to 50 per cent of the costs.

So far, the BMBF has funded roughly 500 collaborative projects with about 3,200 partners in different thematic areas of the framework concept "Research for Tomorrow's Production"

In order to develop the market and employment potential in industrial production, the BMBF funds resource efficiency in production, research campaign against product piracy, production technology to tap nanotechnological potential, the integration of production and services, efficient micro and nano production and flexible production systems for customized production.

• topic Ministry

  Innovations for Resource-Efficient Production

  In view of climate change and the increasing scarcity and rising prices of natural resources, improving resource efficiency is becoming an increasingly significant factor in production processes, among other areas. Companies working in the fields of manufacturing technology and process engineering and their production suppliers need to react to this trend.
   read more: Innovations for Resource-Efficient Production
  (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/12596.php)
   
  
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  topic Hightech Strategy

  Research Campaign Against Product Piracy

  Product piracy poses an enormous threat to innovation and competitiveness in Germany's capital goods industry. Protection against product piracy is also becoming increasingly important. The fields of mechanical and plant engineering are particularly affected by the problem of illegal imitations. It is estimated that the damage amounts to up to €5 billion each year, and that tens of thousands of jobs are lost as a result of this practice. Due to the key role of this industry, research is needed in order to find effective prevention and protection mechanisms and make them available to companies at risk.
   read more: Research Campaign Against Product Piracy
  (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/12095.php)
   
  
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  topic Hightech Strategy

  Nanotechnology - Utilizing Potential for Production

  Research and innovation are to help the capital goods industry with its machines, plants and service sectors to retain its number one ranking as a generator of productivity. The funding priority entitled "Production goes Nano" is providing a decisive contribution to unleashing new potential for applications in nanotechnology involving new technology-oriented processes and equipment. This makes it possible to produce new types of highly efficient products in Germany, both reliably and economically.
   read more: Nanotechnology - Utilizing Potential for Production
  (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/6666.php)
   
  
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  topic Hightech Strategy

  The Nano Effect

  Nanotechnology is increasingly considered a quintessential future technology. Instead of "ever higher, ever farther" its motto is "ever smaller, ever faster, ever more efficient". Nanotechnology utilizes (novel) effects of the smallest structures in the space of a few nanometers - which is much more than producing the same functionality in less space. The potential for application is immense. Future progress in nanotechnology will also determine the further development of future-oriented branches. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research has presented an overall strategy for this area entitled "Nano-Initiative - Action Plan 2015".
   read more: The Nano Effect
  (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/131.php)
   
  
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  topic Hightech Strategy

  Greater Efficiency through the Integration of Production and Services

  Business-related services are already a key part of value creation activities, and their importance is on the rise. In many cases, the contribution of services to the added value of a finished product is a decisive factor for its attractiveness on the market. That is why there is increasing demand for integrated solutions among business customers. Concepts that support the integration of products and services in development, manufacture and marketing can make a significant contribution to improving the competitiveness of the manufacturing industry.
   read more: Greater Efficiency through the Integration of Production and Services
  (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/3632.php)
   
  

• topic Hightech Strategy

  New Approaches for Efficient Micro and Nano Production - µPRO

  The demand for new types of skills for micro production is increasing in mechanical and plant engineering, in electrical engineering, and among users such as the automotive industry. Micro-electro-mechanical systems are already being produced, particularly where electronic production processes can be applied to produce large quantities. But flexible production processes are still needed to ensure cost-effective production for changing amounts of miniaturized products. Targeted research will provide the basis for entirely new production processes and equipment.
   read more: New Approaches for Efficient Micro and Nano Production - µPRO
  (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/3630.php)
   
  
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  topic Hightech Strategy

  Flexible Production Systems for Customized Production

  The challenge of modern production is to meet individual customer demands while remaining competitive by producing on an industrial scale. Customized production offers prospects for growth and employment. It requires state-of-the-art technologies which promote efficient and flexible quality production while minimizing delivery periods. "Flexible production systems for customized production" is therefore a funding priority.
   read more: Flexible Production Systems for Customized Production
  (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/289.php)
   
  

• topic Research

  Produktionsforschung.de: The Portal

  Approximately 340 collaborative projects with more than 2,000 partners from industry and research had been selected for funding by early 2008 under the BMBF's "Research for Tomorrow's Production" programme. Research funding under the framework concept contributes substantially to strengthening small and medium-sized companies. More than 75% of the project partners are industrial partners, and 50% of all partners are SMEs. The portal "Produktionsforschung.de" provides a platform for cooperation between the projects and stakeholders
   read more: Produktionsforschung.de: The Portal
  (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/5013.php)