SME 4.0 – DIGITAL PRODUCTION AND WORK PROCESSES
Within the scope of the funding initiative “Mittelstand 4.0 – Digitale Produktions- und Arbeitsprozesse” [SME 4.0 – Digital Production and Work Processes] launched by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi), a total of 10 competence centers for the digitalization of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) will be built in Germany. The centers are to offer hands on digitalization to SMEs.
One of these competence centers is being established in Chemnitz. It is here where a consortium headed by Chemnitz University of Technology’s Institute of Industrial Management and Factory Systems (IBF) had applied with the “Digital produzieren in Sachsens Mittelstand” [Producing Digitally in Saxony’s SMEs] project for financial support provided by the BMWi within the scope of the funding initiative “Mittelstand 4.0 – Digitale Produktions- und Arbeitsprozesse” [SME 4.0 – Digital Production and Work Processes]. The competence center is to provide these companies with the opportunity of testing their own technical developments as well as interfaces to products and/or customers on site under professional guidance. In addition, the companies are given expert advice on new digital applications, issues revolving around the costs, and safety aspects associated with the introduction of Industry 4.0 technologies.
The Chemnitz-based IBF institute as well as the Chemnitz Chamber of Industry and Commerce also participate in the optimization of business and production processes within the scope of the “Mittelstand 4.0 Agentur Prozesse” [SME 4.0 Agency Processes] platform.
And the “Kompetenzzentrum Digitales Handwerk, Schaufenster Ost” [Competence Center Digital Crafts, Showcase East Germany] is an initiative of the Dresden Chamber of Crafts. Here, the “expansion of services for IT supported business models” is in the foreground.
