Fabian Utz

Industry 4.0: holistic digitalization of intralogistics and manufacturing

Bosch Connected Industry is the IIoT software house of Bosch. In line with Bosch’s lead user and lead provider strategy, the software and services under the NEXEED name are in use at Bosch plants as well as by international customers. The goal is the efficient digitalization of manufacturing and intralogistics. This podcast episode illustrates how this is implemented in detail using two digitalization projects from practice. Use Case 1 – Intralogistics: The discussed use case is about transport management in the internal material flow. Especially in intralogistics, paper-heavy and manual processes predominate. Fluctuating transport requirements and capacities constantly present employees with new challenges. Here, automated transport management brings light into the darkness and makes the material flow transparent, optimizing loading states and transport routes. Based on real-time data of current transport needs and available vehicles, the routes of the milkruns are calculated and sent to a tablet. The milkrun driver is informed and instructed on what to do and in what order. This makes intralogistics processes much more efficient and simplifies employees’ daily work. Use Case 2 – Manufacturing: Manufacturing is still a step ahead of intralogistics in terms of digitalization. However, according to our podcast guests, it is important to harmonize data so that all parties can access the same file formats and transparent, understandable information. An application from the automotive sector is described. The challenge: Information and data can often only be viewed decentrally on one line and are not available across the board. This often stands in the way of a transparent, efficient and error-free production process. Which digital approaches are used here and how condition-based maintenance can be implemented is described in detail in this podcast episode. Who are the digitalization solutions from Bosch Connected Industry aimed at? The customers are operators of all kinds of production facilities, e.g. manufacturers of materials, spare parts, of complete products or also machine and plant manufacturers. The NEXEED portfolio is used in a wide range of industries – from automotive to electronics and measurement technology to sensor technology. One decisive advantage is that Bosch is its own customer and can extensively test and optimize all solutions in practice at its own plants before offering them to customers on the external market. The extensive experience gained from internal application thus benefits customers and their employees both in technological implementation and in further project support.