Intelligent interfaces between the various fields of action and the appropriate technology modules enable networked digital learning. One example of certified quality and coherent concepts for the competencies of the future is the dovetailing of industrial tools such as ERP software from SAP with didactic tools such as MES4 from Festo Didactic.
Different production data can be processed both by the real plant and by its virtual image CIROS® in MES4 or in the cloud. Another important building block for teaching learning content independent of the learning location.
References such as the Dresden University of Applied Sciences, the industrial-technical Philipp-Matthäus-Hahn School in Balingen and the Huber-Sternberg School in Wiesloch show how well networked learning works in practice:
Mr. Heeger, you already installed a Learning Factory 4.0 in 2016 together with four other schools in the Rhine-Neckar district. What has been your experience with the facility in recent years and how have you currently implemented the learning content?
"Currently, students from colleges and high schools, as well as students from traditional technical and commercial apprenticeships, are trained on the system in the HSS. The learning factories have extensive sensor technology (capacitive, inductive, optical, RFID, etc.) and their modern connection to controllers via IO-Link. Electronic technicians for devices and systems are increasingly taught on these sensors and interfaces. These trainees also deal with control and automation technology, as well as bus technologies. In Industry 4.0 production, new types of data and data formats are created about energy consumption, production tolerances, quality assurance, production management, etc. The IT specialists with a focus on application development are responsible for evaluating and processing this data. Flexible and global production also requires cloud technology. Students learn about the use of private, public and community cloud as well as various cloud services (such as IaaS, SaaS and PaaS)."
Right from the start, the aim of your learning concept was also to involve the commercial Johann Philipp Bronner School. What are your experiences after the first few months of cooperation?
"Exchanges and lessons take place regularly with the commercial school. The students from the commercial school visit the learning factory and can experience the function of MES® and ERP live. Orders are created in SAP and then processed in production. Various scenarios are also carried out, such as bringing forward an order or changing an order. Likewise, routings are created or modified."
Klaus Heeger, Headmaster of Hubert Sternberg School, Wiesloch