Using a learning factory approach to transfer Industrie 4.0 approaches to small-and medium-sized enterprises

Digitalization and the informational interconnection of value-adding-processes promise a multitude of opportunities to increase the competitiveness of production companies. This article introduces a research project, which takes an already existent production setting of a learning factory as a starting point and aims to optimize it using Industrie 4.0 approaches. The given value chain and IT-infrastructure are thereby used as a foundation, which is not rebuild, but retrofitted for an increased efficiency and flexibility. Additionally, an outlook on a competence center will be given, which aims to holistically transfer the vision of digitalization into company practice. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.