The Institute for Business Organisation and Logistics (IBL) has been actively involved in the ‘Industry 4.0’ research area at Ulm University of Technology (THU) for many years. The focus is on practical, application-oriented projects relating to the digital transformation of industrial processes.
Past and current activities include, among others, the projects “Industry 4.0 from a Suitcase” and “ZAFH Intralogistics”, the collaborative doctoral programme “Cognitive Computing in Socio-Technical Systems”, and the current project “LCA4All”
In addition, the institute participates in internal research initiatives and student projects that are closely linked to the fields of Industry 4.0, digitalisation and intelligent systems.
Establishment of a Learning Factory:
The institute is currently expanding its logistics laboratory into a learning factory. As part of this process, the existing systems are being networked at the levels of material flow and information technology. The central IT technology used is OPC UA, and the control concept is based on skill- and service-based automation. The primary goal of the learning factory is to provide students with a learning environment that allows them to experience, master, and shape the dynamics, flexibility, and adaptability of today’s production systems in practice.
The establishment of the learning factory is part of the THU-wide THUProf4.0 project, which is funded by the BMBF’s “FH-Personal” program and includes a chair in this field as well as research staff.
Project Leader: Prof. Dr. Sven Völker
Development of an Industry 4.0 Demonstrator:
In this joint project with the Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Materials Testing, Department of Automation Technology, an Industry 4.0 demonstration facility is being developed.The physical production and logistics processes are implemented using fischertechnik components mounted on two of the three tables of the modular system at the top level.
Key elements here include processing stations, conveyor belts, gantry cranes, and a high-bay warehouse. The components are controlled by real PLCs and communication components, whose software is being developed as part of the project and incorporates findings from research on skill- and service-oriented production control. An operator workstation on the third module rounds out the package.
To date, the project has been advanced through more than 10 student projects and theses. The demonstrator is one of the use cases in a doctoral dissertation on service- and skill-based production control at the institute (doctoral candidate: Mr. A. Lober).
Project Leader: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hartwig Baumgärtel
Collaboration Partner: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Lisa Ollinger (THU, IFW Institute)
Life Cycle Assessment of Value Chains for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (LCA4All):
The research project runs from October 2024 to March 2026. It is a transfer project conducted in cooperation between the Ulm University of Applied Sciences and the company Valantic Supply Chain Excellence GmbH.
The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and is part of the DATI initiative. The DATIpilot funding guideline promotes the transfer of knowledge from research to practical application, generates new approaches to addressing societal challenges, and yields important insights for fostering innovation and knowledge transfer as well as for the development of DATI.In this research project, publicly funded by the BMBF under the DATIpilot program, a process model and a system platform for life cycle assessment for SMEs are being developed.
We want to provide support to SMEs because…
The Act on Corporate Due Diligence in Supply Chains entails a reporting obligation (ESG reporting). Until now, this was mandatory only for large companies, but starting with the 2025 financial statements, companies with more than 250 employees must also demonstrate where they stand and how they intend to develop: They must supplement their annual reports with information on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors. But it’s not just company size that triggers this reporting requirement; many SMEs are suppliers and are already facing these supply chain demands—and they’re finding it challenging. Life cycle assessments are time-consuming to prepare; the DIN 14040 standard outlines the procedure. And this is where we’d like to help with this website:
Our mission...
The “LCA4All” project aims to enable small and medium-sized manufacturing companies (SMEs) to determine the environmental footprint of their products within extensive supply chains and identify opportunities for reduction. The core idea of the LCA4All project is to translate the current state of research on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) into practical application and to develop and test innovative LCA software in companies that is tailored to the needs of SMEs for conducting LCAs within their supply chains. In addition, a guide for the practical implementation of LCA will be developed and validated in companies serving as transfer partners.
Further information on the LCA4All project
Project Leader: Prof. Dr. Sebastian Geier
Visit the project website www.lca4all.de
Development of a learning environment for independent, guided learning of data science methods (machine learning) using the KNIME software within a consistent business context:
This project is based on a fictional company, “Lichtgestalten GmbH,” which sells lighting systems and also manufactures components for them in-house. Within the context of this company, numerous different tasks have been identified for which machine learning methods offer effective solutions. The data required for these tasks is based in part on anonymized data from a real company, though its industry and identity have been obscured.
A series of 11 guided exercises was developed on methods such as ABC-XYZ analysis, classification using decision trees, linear and polynomial regression, and clustering—from application areas such as sales (customer analysis), production (predictive maintenance, quality control), and distribution (design of a distribution network) at “Lichtgestalten GmbH.” These exercises can be completed using the no-code analytics platform KNIME . Instructions and descriptions of varying levels of detail are provided for each exercise. A learning path was defined for the entire process. A large portion of the tasks was validated through their use in a course by evaluating learning journals. The company KNIME has supported the project continuously since 2022.
Project Leader: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hartwig Baumgärtel
Development of digital twins for laboratory systems and concepts for virtual commissioning:
Based on methods and tools for simulation, emulation, service-oriented communication, and more, digital twins of laboratory systems—such as the automated small-parts warehouse (AKL), the overhead conveyor system, and the Industry 4.0 demonstrator—are created and networked with their physical counterparts.
Project Leader: Prof. Dr. Sven Völker