Thomas Friedli

The digitization of factories promises great potential benefits. The implementation of the various technologies for the smart factory is extremely complex, requires new competencies and necessitates significant investments. The question is: How can an industrial company successfully manage this transformation? For this purpose, more than 500 published use cases were screened. These could be categorized into 44 relevant use cases, which we describe in detail in the book. Our research has also shown that strategy and goal orientation must be at the core of the change. Furthermore, the combination of employee knowledge and use of technology is central to success. This led to the creation of our smart factory implementation approach. In various research and consulting projects we were able to apply this process and realize successful implementations in different companies. This 7-step process starts with the selection of promising use cases, followed by a prioritization step, adaptationto the company-specific context and a detailing of the information needs for the different management levels. Stringent project management helps the user achieve positive results that can then be rolled out on a global scale. This process is not only applicable to the "actual factory" but can also be used to design smart services for the factory of tomorrow. Content Smart factory definition and characterization · The smart factory navigator · The smart factory framework · Description of the 44 use cases for the smart factory · Technology mapping in relation to the 44 use cases · Smart factory implementation process · Smart services for the smart factory

The digitization of factories promises great potential benefits. The implementation of the various technologies for the smart factory is extremely complex, requires new competencies and necessitates significant investments. The question is: How can an industrial company successfully manage this transformation? For this purpose, more than 500 published use cases were screened. These could be categorized into 44 relevant use cases, which we describe in detail in the book. Our research has also shown that strategy and goal orientation must be at the core of the change. Furthermore, the combination of employee knowledge and use of technology is central to success. This led to the creation of our smart factory implementation approach. In various research and consulting projects we were able to apply this process and realize successful implementations in different companies. This 7-step process starts with the selection of promising use cases, followed by a prioritization step, adaptationto the company-specific context and a detailing of the information needs for the different management levels. Stringent project management helps the user achieve positive results that can then be rolled out on a global scale. This process is not only applicable to the "actual factory" but can also be used to design smart services for the factory of tomorrow. Content Smart factory definition and characterization · The smart factory navigator · The smart factory framework · Description of the 44 use cases for the smart factory · Technology mapping in relation to the 44 use cases · Smart factory implementation process · Smart services for the smart factory

The preceding process of globalization and the continuously rising competitive pressure on manufacturing companies in more developed economies unveiled the limits of classical site-focused optimization approaches. The focus of network optimization shifts ever more towards an integrative view of manufacturing networks, striving for a harmonization of the strategy-, configuration- and coordination levels. This book presents such an integrative approach to the strategic management of manufacturing networks. Besides strategic network requirements, this book discusses the derivation of an optimal global footprint and the optimization of network coordination activities. Special attention is paid to the site roles concept, especially to the concept of 'lead factory'. A large number of up-to-date cases from the producing industry enrich the book and provide the reader with vivid examples for the application of the presented concepts. Hence, this book is a must-read for both practitioners and academic researchers.

The preceding process of globalization and the continuously rising competitive pressure on manufacturing companies in more developed economies unveiled the limits of classical site-focused optimization approaches. The focus of network optimization shifts ever more towards an integrative view of manufacturing networks, striving for a harmonization of the strategy-, configuration- and coordination levels. This book presents such an integrative approach to the strategic management of manufacturing networks. Besides strategic network requirements, this book discusses the derivation of an optimal global footprint and the optimization of network coordination activities. Special attention is paid to the site roles concept, especially to the concept of 'lead factory'. A large number of up-to-date cases from the producing industry enrich the book and provide the reader with vivid examples for the application of the presented concepts. Hence, this book is a must-read for both practitioners and academic researchers.

In einem dynamischer und komplexer werdenden Umfeld wird Flexibilität mehr und mehr zum Muss für produzierende Unternehmen. Ausgehend von der aktuellen Situation dieser Betriebe in Westeuropa bietet das Buch einen integrierten Managementansatz zur Sicherung einer längerfristigen Wettbewerbsfähigkeit. Es stellt exemplarisch Methoden und Instrumente zur Verfügung, um die für das spezifische Unternehmen notwendige Flexibilität erreichen zu können. Ausgehend von der St. Galler Tradition steht die Betrachtung des Gesamtunternehmens im Vordergrund und nicht die Teiloptimierung einzelner Bereiche. Die Autoren vermitteln in der 2. Auflage neue Ansätze wie "Globale Produktion", "Lead Factory" oder "Operative Exzellenz", die deutliche Erweiterungen des Praxisnutzens darstellen. Das Buch wird damit zum Nachschlagewerk für modernes Technologie- und Produktionsmanagement und leistet einen Beitrag zur Etablierung des strategischen Produktionsmanagements als moderne Form der Betriebswirtschaftslehre.