LEGOLAS

Flexible Configuration Of Modular Production And Logistics

In process industries, there is a constantly growing trend for product differentiation and shorter product life cycles. The reason for that lies in increasing market uncertainty: While in the past mostly a few products were demanded constantly over long periods, nowadays, markets require permanent innovation. This enforces raised industrial standards in production planning and logistics. To be able to give prompt answers to rapidly changing demands, modularization of production as well as logistics has become inevitable. While for production reliable solutions have been found in the meantime, there is still a deficit regarding logistics. This issue is focused on by the project Planungsassistenzsystem für modulare Industrie-4.0-Anlagen in der Prozessindustrie (Planning Assistance System For Modular Industry 4.0 Plants In Process Industries), in which INOSIM takes part.

Planning Assistance Tool for Complex Logistics

Designing single logistical modules (e.g., modularized filling stations) is a central problem definition of the project. Subsequently, it has to be clarified how production systems and their related logistics can be configured, reconfigured, and evaluated near-term. For that purpose, the development of a planning assistance tool named LEGOLAS is projected; it is meant to enable quick configuration of modular production and logistics systems. An evaluation feature which is integrated to LEGOLAS will allow comparing alternative configurations. Finally, the solutions found in the project shall be validated by generic and real-life case studies.

The following steady partners from science and industry build the project team:

• Fraunhofer Institut für Materialfluss und Logistik, Dortmund, Germany
• Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
• INOSIM Consulting GmbH, Dortmund, Germany
• IMPERIAL LOGISTICS INTERNATIONAL, Duisburg, Germany
• BEUMER Maschinenfabrik, Beckum, Germany

The project runs from June 2017 to May 2020. This project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (EFRE).

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