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future production, this means that work-
ers will have to be able to plan and as-
semble as well as operate, set up and
maintain new types of machines, systems
and products.
Training for the factory of the future will
involve much more than simply imparting
skills and competencies, it will involve a
cultural change. In networked production,
we need a culture of learning and inter
disciplinary exchange. This willingness
to adapt and to learn will determine the
success of companies.
“The changes to the world of
production discussed under
the umbrella of Industry 4.0
are an evolutionary process.”
Prof. Dr. Peter Post, Head of Corporate Research and Technology, Festo
Cooperation to create the future
The commitment to Industry 4.0 goes far beyond company bound-
aries. Festo is working with research institutes, universities and
partners from industry on this topic and many others as part of
the ‘Platform Industry 4.0’ initiative. This initiative is supported
by the VDMA, ZVEI and BITKOM associations, companies like SAP,
Siemens and Festo as well as the federal government. Festo is rep-
resented on both the management board and the steering commit-
tee of the Industry 4.0 Platform. In particular, Festo is actively
involved in the creation of a reference architecture for Industry 4.0
and the development of binding standards and norms such as the
definition of an ‘Industry 4.0 component’. More information on
the work of the Industry 4.0 Platform can be found in the interview
with Dr. Eberhard Veit.
In addition, Festo AG as well as Festo Didactic are working on other
initiatives related to Industry 4.0, for example the manufacturer-
independent initiative SmartFactory KL. The objective of this dem-
onstration and research platform at the University of Kaiserslautern
is to integrate new technologies and concepts into the factory au-
tomation environment and to develop and test how intelligent
components from different manufacturers cooperate and network
under real conditions.
2.2015
trends in automation
Impulse
16
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