Good practice:

Digital Production Workplace

Problem addressed: Even though the office workplaces are largely digitalised, production workers typically still use a paper-based system. However, the same technologies (web-based solutions) employed in the office environment can be used in the production environment.

This practice is a technology transfer project. The objectives were addressed by two groups with different tasks:
- SMEs (application partners)
- IT Technology provider and Hof University.
The solution for the problem is developed by Hof University. The IT Technology partners are accompanying the project from an early stage in order to be ready to support the application partner beyond the project’s term.

The solution, which has been produced by Hof University is made Open Source.

The main stakeholders and beneficiaries are:
1. SMEs in the manufacturing sector:
Because their software technologies are often not up-to-date, the project increases the cooperating company with additional know-how compared to other market participants. Without the support of Hof University this forward-thinking progress would often not be possible. Also when involving several companies in the project, a community is created and the solution becomes more market-ready.

2. IT Technology partner: They become digitalization-multipliers for the region, because they are able to support other SMEs as well.

3. Hof University: Improves its state of research and the skillset of their employees with each project.

For each phase of the project (each 12 months): 1 full time employee and 1 Professor (4 hours p. week).

Technical equipment of various types: tablet with browser, open source software, PC for software development, barcode scanner, digital caliper gauge (Quality assurance tools).

The first project partner Gealan (company) has the tool in operational use.
The first technology partner Vogler has generated follow-up orders.
Currently there are at least five interested parties for application partners and three additional interested parties as technology partner.
Website: https://wimit.iisys.de

Hof University
- Knowledge-transfer from one scientific employee to the next.

Application partner
- Hard to find and persuade (at the beginning)
- Daily business stands in the way.

Technology Partner:
- Skepticism towards Open Source applications.

The project showed, that it is very valuable to have this triangle as a functioning working group. It has proven successful to have a research and scientific partner, a technology partner and an application partner, who will implement the solution.
For the scientific partner, such a project is useful because it allows trying out its knowledge in the real world. Additionally because many SMEs are searching for employees with IT skills, employees (students, scientific staff members) are being prepared for their future jobs in the open economy.

The IT Partner can use the findings of the scientific institute and acts as a multiplier of knowledge in the region.

The company itself obtains a solution for a problem, which it might not have been able to tackle because of the financial risk and time they otherwise would have had to put in it. They can further develop and customize the project results for themselves.

Additionally the project results are open for the public.