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Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Digitalization is a decisive competitive factor for industry - artificial intelligence (AI), digital twins and cyber security are considered the key technologies of the future. But how can manufacturing companies use these technologies specifically and effectively to make processes more efficient, sustainable and secure?
The latest report from the International Center for Networked, Adaptive Production (ICNAP) provides practical answers: from zero-trust architectures and the integration of AI to the use of digital twins, the report offers solutions for Industry 4.0. It also presents an outlook on the future of autonomous production and highlights approaches for the so-called "dark factory" – a fully automated production facility.
Although digitalization offers enormous opportunities, many companies are still hesitant to take the step towards Industry 4.0. High investment costs, a lack of expertise and uncertainties regarding implementation often stand in the way. Yet digitalization not only improves efficiency and product quality, but also makes a decisive contribution to achieving sustainable goals - for example by conserving resources and increasing energy efficiency. At the same time, it makes businesses more resilient by making processes more flexible and production systems more resilient to disruptions.
Sustainability and resilience were therefore already key topics at the "ICNAP Summer Meeting 2024", where researchers and industry partners worked together to develop practical approaches focusing on "Intelligent Sensing and Communication" and "Data-Driven Sustainability". For the first time, the results of these workshops have been directly incorporated into this report.
Artificial intelligence - plug-and-produce for rapid deployment
The use of AI in manufacturing is a particular focus of the report. AI offers a wide range of opportunities for process optimization, from quality assurance to automation. The report presents a plug-and-produce approach that enables AI to be quickly and easily integrated into existing production systems. This is supported by a technical reference architecture and an organizational framework to guide companies.
Another study is dedicated to generative AI and its potential to transform business processes and production workflows. The interactive platform "AI Everywhere", which was developed as part of the study, offers ICNAP partners a practical overview of tools, use cases and best practices in which generative AI is used. This enables companies to identify specific potential without having to conduct extensive basic research.
Trust is good, control is better - zero-trust architectures to prevent cyber attacks
As digitalization increases, so do the demands on IT security. New EU directives such as the Network and Information Security Directive (NIS2), the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) and the EU Machinery Regulation are making the protection of production systems a priority for companies. At the same time, the threat of cybercrime is growing.
For this reason, this topic was also explored in a study: the article "Zero trust architectures for networked industrial processes" shows how companies can protect their production systems from increasing cybersecurity risks by relying on the "zero trust" model. This model continuously verifies every access and thus significantly increases the level of security.
From digital twin to dark factory – the future of fully automated production
The Digital Twin Demonstrator is another result of the 2024 research presented in the report. Using battery cell modules as an example, it demonstrates how deep learning can be used to automatically control the quality of welds. This is a practical example of how companies can use connected modeling to make their production processes more efficient and error-free.
Another study looks at the next step toward full automation of a production facility, bringing the vision of a "dark factory" - a fully autonomous, self-controlling production facility, is becoming more tangible. By using multidimensional digital twins and advanced analysis tools, companies can evaluate their production facilities and develop them further in a targeted manner. The report offers concrete tools for analyzing the status quo and identifying key technologies for the production facility of the future.
ICNAP – a networked innovation platform for the digital industry
The International Center for Networked Adaptive Production (ICNAP) combines the expertise of the three Aachen-based Fraunhofer Institutes for Production Technology IPT, for Laser Technology ILT and for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME as well as leading experts from industry and science. ICNAP was founded as an open research platform and industrial test environment to develop new approaches to the digitalization of production and test them in practice.
ICNAP places particular emphasis on knowledge transfer and exchange with partners from industry. The platform is open to new partnerships and regularly offers free events to provide direct insights into the work of the community and the research of the participating Fraunhofer Institutes.
The annual meeting in December 2024 was used by the members of the ICNAP community to vote on the five new studies for the following year. The newly selected topics for 2025 include
- Integration of Sensor Technology in Brownfield Applications
- Approval of AI Systems for Quality Control - Fulfilling Regulatory and Stakeholder Requirements
- Production Optimization: Concept for Holistic Optimization of Production
- A Digital Process Twin for Manufacturing: Unlocking New Optimization Potentials
- Manufacturing "Secured by Design": A Zero-Trust Approach to Industrial Product Development
The study report for the year 2025 will be presented at this year's annual meeting on December 9, 2025.
This press release is also available under
https://www.ipt.fraunhofer.de/en/Press/Pressreleases/250218-practical-solutions-...
Alexander Kies
Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT
Steinbachstrasse 17
52074 Aachen
Germany
Phone +49 241 8904-498
alexander.kies@ipt.fraunhofer.de
Helene Köhler
Marketing and Communications Production Quality
Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT
Steinbachstrasse 17
52074 Aachen
Germany
Phone +49 241 8904-462
helene.koehler@ipt.fraunhofer.de
https://www.ipt.fraunhofer.de/icnap-report-2024-en
ICNAP Report 2024
© Fraunhofer IPT
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ICNAP Report 2024
© Fraunhofer IPT
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