Manufacturing - self-organized and networked
Digitalization is on the rise in production facilities around the world. Catena-X is taking advantage of this and revolutionizing manufacturing: In the future, manufacturing processes will be networked, automated and self-organized, with maximum of effectiveness and flexibility.
Closely timed production processes
Large factories lose more than 300 production hours per year on average. During this time, the companies concerned are unable to earn any money. Instead, the outages cost as much as six-figure sums – per hour. [1] In very few cases, it is possible to influence the reasons for this: Delayed deliveries, broken machinery or short-term changes to the order placed are generally neither predictable nor controllable.
In addition to the monetary burdens, the outages mean immense coordination costs. Then if one shift is cancelled, the following ones are usually postponed too, which, in the worst case, impacts the promised completion of customer orders. Catena-X wants to optimize this manual work and enrich it with the advantages of networked production.
Unlimited interlocked production systems
Catena-X establishes transparency in the supply chain, including the details relevant for production planning:
- client and order
- materials and milestones required
- manufacturing processes needed
In the event of a deviation from the requirements described, a comparison with the information stored in the Catena-X data ecosystem starts immediately:
- Which machine can do the job instead?
- Who can deliver the material at short notice alternatively?
- Which orders can be brought forward to avoid any idle time?
The query, comparison and evaluation are automated and self-organized thanks to the latest technology. Catena-X also wants to achieve its vision of one-off production at the price of series production - a benefit of the lower, product-specific planning efforts.
Useful for SMEs, too
The costs of production downtimes are especially significant for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). They do not always have the necessary resources to bridge delays. Many SMEs are also dependent on repeat orders from satisfied customers. It is, therefore, essential for them to carry out a project as agreed. Here, the link to the Catena-X network creates stability by permanently comparing the company’s own manufacturing details with the data from the other partners involved in the project:
- networking of one’s own production with a wide range of potential business partners
- automated and rapid reconciliation of data along the supply chain
- early identification of the need for action
- improved overall equipment effectiveness
- access to additional use case like manufacturing-as-a-service and online control and simulation.
Technical features
The prerequisite for modular production is the use of a shop floor management system for production planning. In addition, you can connect your system to the Catena-X data ecosystem using special interfaces, for example via our EDC connector. As part of the network, this enables rapid data exchange across different levels such as edge, MES/MOM, and cloud solutions like Mindsphere.
The current state of development
Catena-X and the companies participating have already presented initial prototypes at industrial trade shows. Further development is in progress. Or you can become part of our network yourself.
Introducing and implementing Catena-X
Jörg Neidig
Business Owner