Solutions for the changing production environments
International Symposium MMS Academy by Kon-Cept in Haag
As with the events of previous years, this June high-ranking managers of automobile manufacturers and suppliers from IT, development and production branches flocked to Haag in Lower Austria to participate in an event that promised first-hand information on current developments and future technologies for Production and Logistics in the automotive industry. This year the symposium „MMS Academy“ took place on 28 June. The participating experts hailed from a large number of countries like Bulgaria, Germany, Austria, Poland and Hungary, to name a few.
The time span for the automotive industry to tackle new challenges is becoming shorter by the year. Within the last 10 years only, sequenced extents on the shop floor have quadrupled, the number of part numbers have tripled and the number of supplier locations has doubled. A constant process is underway for developing new visions for Production like modular assembly which could be one of the answers to the question of the continuously growing complexity and increasing number of variants.
Modular assembly´s challenges
The first expert talk was delivered by Gerhard Mödl, Audi Ingolstadt. He gave an impressive presentation on the challenges of proposed solutions for modular assemblies. This requires even shorter control loops, a variable assembly sequence and demand-driven autocontrol of orders and ressources. Already today, the software MMS by Kon-Cept supports the testing of this concept in an actual environment where this concept is also checked for time-spreading, versatility and scalability.
Where to use Artificial Intelligence
Alexander Hoffmann, FH Technikum Vienna, explained in his talk about Applied Machine Learning how to proceed from formulating theories, evaluating data and choosing suitable algorithms to critical evaluation. He showed very impressively how diagnosis in medicine could be supported and optimized but also looked at the „dark side“ of AI that comes forward for example when entirely real-looking photographs of non-existent persons and even videos of scenes that never happend in real life could be created. It will be one of the main challenges for AI to detect and confirm such fakes.
Kon-Cept already employs special AI algorithms for the intelligent preemptive monitoring of the MMS system, and also in the next step for entire workshops. This will enable Kon-Cept to react much faster and more effectively to emerging problems, as was presented by Christoph Cudly, Kon-Cept.
Optimized energy management
An optimized energy management will save costs without affecting either efficiency or effectiveness. Christian Goger, Magna Heavy Stamping Albersdorf, explained the tasks set about in connected energy monitoring following the ISO50001 Guideline. Klaus Espernberger, Kon-Cept, illustrated how these tasks were processed and realised using MMS by Kon-Cept.
Bianca Prommer, GrowFact, presented how seriously Kon-Cept takes its service excellence claim and based this on the results of the most recent customer satisfaction survey. She highlighted the dilemmas arising from perceived opposites like agile methods vs pressure from deadlines or flexibility vs simplicity.
MMS roadmap: Where will the journey of Kon-Cept go?
The final presentation of this year´s MMS Academy was given by Markus Kropik, Kon-Cept, who showed the MMS roadmap for the next years. Kon-Cept will hold true to its long-time mission and will continue to replace fragmented processes by integrated processes with high productivity, high-quality products being the result.
MMS live-demo beds
Following the presentation session the participants of the MMS Academy could see for themselves on 8 MMS live-demo beds what the latest developments by Kon-Cept feature. Many lively discussions followed and no question was left unanswered. Provided information was very well received and in the end overwhelming positive feedback was given by the participants.
MMS Academy is set in the idyllic frame of Kon-Cepts´s traditional Upper-Austrian farm house („Mostviertler Vierkanthof“) in Haag, Lower Austria, that houses the company´s development center. It provides the quaint and relaxed atmosphere for the extensive expert discussions the MMS Academy was designed for: to be an event where a software developing company engages in the direct exchange with its customers, the academic world and consulters - a pledge that attracts a growing number of participants every year.
Expert speakers
From left to right:
Christoph Cudly, Software developer, KON-CEPT
Bianca Prommer, CEO, GrowFact e.U.
Alexander Hofmann, Head of curriculum Game Engineering & Simulation, FH Technikum Wien
Christian Goger, IT Systemintegrator, MAGNA COSMA
Klaus Espernberger, Head of Development Operations, KON-CEPT
Markus Kropik, CEO & CTO, KON-CEPT
Gerhard Mödl, Chief architect IT Production processes, AUDI AG
Konrad Klein, Landlord, KON-CEPT