Artificial intelligence (AI) carries great potential for data-based process improvements in intralogistics of manufacturing companies. This paper provides a comprehensive catalog of ten AI use cases ...structured along the most relevant intralogistics processes. The catalog has been elaborated during several workshops in the research project IMAGINE and results from a systematic process analysis using e.g. OMEGA and material flow methods. Furthermore, all identified AI use cases are assessed regarding their effort-benefit ratio based on a survey with domain experts and AI experts of three involved manufacturing companies and two research institutes. Both the use case catalog and the assessment show promising AI applications in intralogistics and thus support decision-makers in the strategic planning and implementation of AI.
The digital transformation describes a far-reaching change process that does not stop at any industry. Companies and entire industries must realign themselves in order to respond to these fundamental ...changes of business models and processes. Therefore, digital transformation should be on the strategic agenda of every company, independently from its size and industry. Especially, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face the challenge of firmly integrating the topic of digital transformation into their strategy. SMEs from all industries have to cope with the general challenge of tackling the issue of digital transformation in a sustainable approach. In addition to this cross-industry challenge, the respective companies face industry- and company-specific tasks when developing their digital strategy. For this reason, this paper presents a procedure model, and a method kit that enables companies in different industries to develop a digital strategy. Within this procedure model, the respective initial situation and industry specific challenge of a company is taken into account. The procedure model is extended by methods for the corresponding strategy development phase to enable companies to elaborate their digital strategy in a problem-specific approach. The application of the procedure model as well as selected methods are within the furniture and the tool manufacturer industry.
Sustainability and digitalization are two central fields of action in the manufacturing industry that are of crucial importance for future business success. While the digital transformation has been ...a key topic on the strategic agenda of many companies for several years, corporate sustainability transformation has become significantly more relevant in the recent past. However, since the digital transformation is still in progress, there is a need for a holistic transformation that includes both topics. Conducting this so-called dual transformation is a necessary and time-critical task for companies to keep their businesses viable. Yet, despite their relevance and intersections, digital and sustainability transformation are often considered separately in companies today.
For this reason, the goal of this paper is to identify current challenges and barriers as well as to transparently disclose the potentials of the dual transformation. Therefore, an interview study with digitalization and sustainability experts from the manufacturing industry is conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire. Consolidating the results, an overarching framework is developed structuring the essential fields of action for the dual transformation. The results of the interview study complement preliminary work in the research field and simultaneously allow companies to better address interdependencies and synergies of the dual transformation.
Digitalization and sustainability are two central fields of action in the company that are of crucial importance for future business success. The necessary transformation represents a strategically ...relevant and time-critical task for manufacturing companies that requires an integrative approach in the sense of a dual transformation. Successfully linking digitalization and sustainability enables companies to create long-term competitive advantages in the market for example by developing smart and sustainable products. Despite the strategic relevance, digital and sustainability transformation are often considered separately in corporate practice. One reason for this is that the interplays between digitalization and sustainability in the industrial context are multilayered and complex. This leads to a lack of transparency due to the broad spectrum of the entire research field. Therefore, we conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) to identify similarities and differences between digital and sustainability transformation. The analysis of the existing literature reveals several interplays that both transformation processes have. Based on the core results, we propose a framework for dual transformation supporting decision-makers in corporate practice.
Digitalization and sustainability are central fields of action for maintaining and increasing economical, ecological and societal wellbeing. Digital transformation is already firmly anchored in the ...strategic orientation of many industrial companies, and at the same time we are on the threshold of a sustainability transformation. For sustainable business success, these two transformation processes must be considered integratively in the sense of a dual transformation. However, synergistically linking these processes requires substantial resources and know-how, which medium-sized companies in particular often cannot bear alone. Here, the transfer from application-oriented research can make valuable contributions. Based on the Design Science Research methodology we therefore conducted interviews and analyzed current literature from the areas of digitalization and sustainability in strategic management to define a research agenda. The research agenda provides nine dualities to be overcome along the three levels of management (normative, strategic and operative). The results aim to support medium-sized compannies in the industrial sector in tackling the dual transformation escpecially focusing on ecological sustainability.
