Since December BIFOCAlps partners have worked on work package 3 activities, which aim to develop an impact indicator system to evaluate the impact of FoF technologies and practices adoption. Moreover, this work package also aimed at developing a validated methodology for innovation and knowledge transfer towards FoF.

Development of the impact indicator system

For that purpose, both measurable impact indicators and qualitative impact indicators were developed. Each project partner used these indicators as guidelines to complete a table of values with information concerning its country at a national, regional and company level. Each impact indicator system was developed taking into consideration different layers and target groups like national/ regional/ local public authorities, business support organizations, and enterprises (SMEs). The impact indicator system was also based on literature review (theory, databases, surveys, case studies...), identified critical success factors (WP2) and survey results (sector maps, survey).

At a national level, the main goal of the impact indicator system was to compare nations in terms of CSF–requirements and to provide a first impression between national differences addressing policy makers and public authorities. On the other hand, at a regional level, the impact indicator system focused on comparing regions as far as CSF –requirements are concerned and to provide a more detailed comparison of regional differences regarding CSF with a main focus on NUTS 2 –Regions. Also in this case, policy makers and public authorities were the main addresses. The indicator selection on company level aimed at evaluating the progress and readiness of the company according to the CSF and the increase in performance due to practices-and technology adoption. In this case, board of directors, CEOs and process managers were the main addresses.

After completing the impact indicator system, a validated methodology for innovation and knowledge transfer towards FoF was developed to establish common guidelines to integrate impact indicators to innovation processes.

Within the European research-project BIFOCAlps, Fraunhofer Austria, in cooperation with the Wirtschaftsagentur Wien, organized a Workshop to discuss and exchange ideas on issues regarding the Factory of the Future. The Workshop took place at the TU Wien Pilotfabrik Industrie 4.0 on the 22^nd of February, 2018.

More than 30 attendees and representatives of small- and medium sized companies followed the invitation to participate in the BIFOCAlps-workshop to discuss and share ideas on specific topics concerning the Factory of the Future.

The workshop started with some greeting-words by Peter Schieder, division manager of the production- and logistics management of Fraunhofer Austria, and Michael Schwantzer, Technolgy services Wirtschaftsagentur Wien. Some key notes about the TU Wien Pilotfabrik Industrie 4.0 and the BIFOCAlps-project followed. In the Work Package 3, Fraunhofer Austria developed an indicator system to track the path towards the Factory of the Future of companies.       

The focus of the second part of the workshop was an intense discussion about some specific topics of the BIFOCAlps-project, organized in a World Café. The attendees gave valuable feedback about the developed indicator system, which will incorporated in the approach.

The final part of the workshop consisted in a guided tour through the TU Wien Pilotfabrik Industrie 4.0. All guests were able to get some insights into future trends and innovative technologies in the fields of production and logistics. The workshop ended with some exciting discussions concerning the exchange of ideas on food and drinks.

In times of digitalization many new technologies turn up. Along with these technologies also a lot of application fields appear. To show different application fields along the manufacturing value chain, BIFOCAlps organized a workshop for industrial companies to show different use cases of virtual und augmented reality. The workshop focuses on discussions about technology implementation. In a world café the guests were able to see and discuss three use cases of virtual and augmented reality: virtual prototyping, service and maintenance as well as marketing communication and product development. Besides a general introduction of the specific showcases the guests talk to the providers about requirements to implement these kind of technology in a manufacturing value chain. One of the main results of the workshop is that technology applications should be easy to handle for people and workers. Also data integration from existing data into the new application has to possible in a very smooth way. Another very important point for companies is data security. Technology providers have to ensure data security especially in manufacturing and engineering processes, in which a lot of companies have their intellectual property. The main requirements the discussion groups identified on a policy maker level is providing a stable and fast connection to the internet. At the moment companies which want to use digital technologies like virtual and augmented reality cannot benefit from the full potential of these technologies regarding to lacks of internet connection. To fasten technology implementation in companies a pilot testing phase for companies seems a good way to test the advantages of digital technologies. Therefore technology providers should think of offering “testing packages”.

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BIFOCAlps partner ViaMéca is glad to invite you to its European matchmaking event on Metal 3D printing which will be held on May 24 in Grenoble, France.

The objective of this matchmaking event is to facilitate inter-regional/cross-border cooperation between regional public and private sector actors in the development of joint initiatives/partnerships or joint demonstration projects in Metal 3D Printing – matching S3 priorities and exploiting identified synergies and complementary resources and strengths. Inter-regional or cross-border cooperation can help to exploit complementarities/synergies (i.e. different value chain positions, technologies, etc.), pool resources and infrastructures across Europe, address non-technological issues (e.g. standards) and enlarge the potential user-base.

The event will focus on:

• Challenges and opportunities for the use of 3D Metal Printing in Europe;
• Pan-European Inter-Regional Matchmaking event;
• Bilateral and multilateral meetings between public and private actors;
• Inter-regional/Cross-border cooperation on targeted focus areas.

For more information and registrations: https://watify-grenoble.b2match.io/

Please note that ViaMéca will organize the day before (on May 23), also in Grenoble, the 5^th Day of the RAFAM (“Rhône-Alpes Fabrication Additive Métallique”) regional community on metal additive manufacturing. For more information, please write at europe@viameca.fr.

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We are glad to announce and invite you to our international BIFOCAlps conference, that will be held in Bled from the 31th May to the 1st of June within the framework of the 18th Mangement International Conference (MIC).

MICs main title of this year is »Managing Global Diversities« ( http://www.mic.fm-kp.si/ ). And the conference will focus on how to address the persistent global imbalances and how to manage global and regional diversities in such a way to secure more inclusive and more sustainable socio-economic development in the future.

Within the main theme of MIC, the goal of this BIFOCAlps conferece is to look at policy strategies and motivation tools, which could support SMEs to join the digitalization processes and to manage digital transformation.

Thematic topics of this conference will be:

• BIFOCAlps´main activities, outputs and deliverables
• EU policies on FoF
• Policy strategies and motivation tools for SMEs to join digitalization processes in FoF
• Managing digital transformation and required skills of the employees in the market

Agenda:
 

31th May 2018

08.30 – 09.30 Registration
09.30 – 13.00 Opening of the MIC conference+Keynote Speech+Concurrent Sessions

13.00 – 14.00 Light lunch

14.00 – 17.30 BIFOCAlps conference

14.00 – 14.20: The BIFOCAlps Project; Presentation of main activities, outputs and deliverables from WPT1 – WPT3 – Massimiliano Bertetti, Polo Tecnologico, Pordenone

14.20 – 14.40: Presentation of main activities, outputs and deliverables in WPT4 – dr. Borut Likar s.p. (external expert for WPT4).

14.40 – 15.00: Overview of EU policies on FoF (manufacturing sector)

Round Table 1:

15.00 – 15.45:   Policy strategies and motivation tools for SMEs to join digitalization processes in FoF

15.45 – 16.00: Questions/answers

16.00 – 16.15: Coffee break

Round Table 2:

16.15 – 17.15: Managing digital transformation (required competences/skills of the employees in the market)

17.15 – 17.30: Questions/answers

19.00 Light dinner

1st June 2018

8.30 – 9.00 - Registration
9.00 – 13.30 - Thematic sessions of MIC conference
13.30 – 14.30 - Light lunch

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We are glad to announce and invite you to the 24th International Conference on Engineering, Technology and Innovation that will be held in Stuttgart from the 17th to the 20th of June 2018. This conference is organized by Baden-Württemberg Connected (bwcon), the leading technology network in the south of Germany together with the Institute for Strategic Innovation & Technology management (IST)  from the Lake of Konstanz University of Applied Sciences.

The goal of this event is to give researchers, innovators, industrialists, engineers and practitioners the chance to share their insights, practices, projects and case studies that address the conference theme: “Era of connectedness: the future of Technology, Engineering & Innovation in a digital society”. The scientific partners of BIFOCAlps project will present some papers about topics related to “Factory of the Future” and also have an interactive workshop regarding the issue of digital twins in manufacturing industries. See the detailed agenda here: http://www.ice-conference.org/Program/Keynotes.aspx

Thematic topics of this conference will be:

•       Technology

•       Engineering

•       Innovation and Entrepreneurship

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We are delighted to announce you that the BIFOCAlps' Final Event will be organized on the 18th & 19th of September 2018. The agenda will be online asap.

Key facts:

Place: Fachhochschule Vorarlberg GmbH (Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences)

Adress: Hochschulstraße 1, AT-6850 Dornbirn

Date: 18th & 19th September 2018

Additional Information: follow soon

We are looking forward to welcome you and to share and discuss project results and outcomes with you!